CABINET OFFICE

Civil Contingency Plans (Portsmouth)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what resources he has allocated to improve civil contingency plans for the Portsmouth area in the event of a terrorist attack in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Central Government provides funds, in the form of civil defence grant, for local authority emergency planning and civil contingency planning.
	The allocations of civil defence grant for Portsmouth city council and Hampshire county council from 2000–01 onwards are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			Local authority 
			  Portsmouth Hampshire 
		
		
			 2000–01 48, 000 229, 824 
			 2001–02 78, 999 276,770 
			 2002–03 74, 081 298,610 
			 2003–04 74,467 298,996 
		
	
	Local authorities often supplement the civil defence grant from their revenue support grant. I understand that Portsmouth city council budgeted to provide an additional £17,304 in 2002–03 and £20,533 in 2003–04 and that Hampshire county council budgeted to provide an additional £326,900 in 2002–03 and £336,600 in 2003–04.
	The civil defence grant is just part of central Government funding for planning for and responding to emergencies. Central Government provides substantial funds to other local responders, including the emergency services and health authorities.

E-Envoy

Tim Yeo: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to change (a) the level of staffing and (b) the role of the Office of the e-Envoy;
	(2)  how many staff have worked in the Office of the e-Envoy in each month since its establishment;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the work of the Office of the e-Envoy since its establishment.

Douglas Alexander: The Office of the e-Envoy was established in September 1999. The following table shows how many staff have worked in the Office of the e-Envoy in each month since this date. All figures are rounded to full-time equivalents (FTE) . The Office of the e-Envoy business plan for the 2003–04 financial year assumes an average of 122 FTE staff.
	Last November, the Office of the e-Envoy published its third UK online annual report. The report provides a comprehensive summary of the work of the Office and makes recommendations for future activity.
	It also highlighted the results of an independent e-economy benchmarking study which found the UK to be second only to the USA in terms of its environment for e-commerce.
	The E-Minister, Patricia Hewitt and the e-Envoy, Andrew Pinder also provide a monthly update to the PM outlining activity.
	Copies of the annual and monthly reports are available in the Library of the House, from the Office of the e-Envoy and online at www.e-envoy.gov.uk.
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 April — 54 111 142 
			 May — 56 123 138 
			 June — 56 125 141 
			 July — 54 129 140 
			 August — 52 128 134 
			 September 2 56 138 139 
			 October 4 57 146 140 
			 November 6 60 147 144 
			 December 10 60 145 145 
			 January 12 62 148 141 
			 February 51 71 145 141 
			 March 53 92 143 138 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are full-time equivalents rounded to nearest whole number.

Public Appointments

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many vacancies in public appointments there were in each county in 2002;
	(2)  how many public appointments there were in each county in 2002.

Douglas Alexander: This information is not held centrally. Individual Ministers, supported by their Departments are responsible for making their own appointments.For my own Department during 2002, six new appointments and 21 re-appointments were made to non-departmental public bodies for which the Cabinet Office was responsible. All were made to boards of public bodies whose headquarters are in London.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff are employed by his Department.

Douglas Alexander: Staffing figures for Civil Service departments and agencies are published twice yearly by press notice, copies of which are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The latest information, for October 2002, was published in February this year. The figures are also made available via the world-wide web at http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/documents/pdf/staffing 03.pdf

Departmental Units (Budgets)

Archie Norman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) total budget of and (b) total pay costs incurred by (i) the Strategy Unit, (ii) the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, (iii) the Office of the e-Envoy, (iv) the Office of Public Services Reform and (v) the Prime Minister's Policy Unit have been in each year since their creation.

Douglas Alexander: For details of the No. 10 Policy Directorate, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 25 March 2003, Official Report, columns 125–27W. The Strategy Unit was not formed until June 2002 so there are no full year's figures on which to report. For the rest of the units inquired about see the following tables:
	
		£000
		
			  Total budget 
			 Unit name 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Office of the e-Envoy 0 42,299 55,633 56,096 
			 Delivery Unit 0 0 0 1,393 
			 OPSR 0 0 0 1,518 
		
	
	
		£000
		
			  Total actual pay costs 
			 Unit name 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Office of the e-Envoy 0 5,566 7,327 8,800 
			 Delivery Unit 0 0 0 614 
			 OPSR 0 0 0 980

DEFENCE

Gulf War Veterans

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he considers that (a) the renal disorder and (b) the post traumatic stress disorder of Paul Connolly, a civilian Gulf war veteran are attributable to that conflict.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 31 March 2003
	The Ministry of Defence does not believe that Paul Connolly's renal disorder is attributable to the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. The nature of traumatic psychological injury is such that the Ministry of Defence would need to carefully consider up to date specialist psychiatric assessment before being able to give a view on whether or not Paul Connolly has PTSD and, if so, its aetiology.

HMS Torbay

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there have been problems with HMS Torbay upon its return to active service following its refit.

Adam Ingram: HMS Torbay returned to the fleet after her refit in November 2002 following a short delay while the submarine's electrical generation and heat management system and equipment was repaired.
	As is normal following a substantial maintenance and upgrade period, some defects have been identified since HMS Torbay returned to operational service. These have had no significant impact on operational capability and have either been repaired during routine maintenance or will be addressed when the programme permits.

Iraq

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial support will be made available to the dependants of those killed or injured in the conflict in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) provides valuable occupational ill-health benefits, based on years of service and rank, where a service person is injured and medically discharged from the armed forces. If the injury is considered attributable to service, the AFPS benefits are enhanced and paid tax-free. In addition, the War Pension Scheme (WPS) pays a War Disablement Pension and may pay other associated allowances, which include recognition of carer responsibilities.
	Where the member dies in service from an attributable cause and leaves a widow or widower, and/or a dependant child, the AFPS benefits include a short-term family pension, equal to the service person's annual rate of pensionable pay; this is payable for up to 182 days and maintains the household income level in the early months of bereavement. In addition, a death-in-service lump sum is paid of between 1 and 1½ times the individual's representative rate of pay, and an attributable gratuity is also payable; both these are paid tax-free.
	Thereafter, a long-term widow's or widower's pension and, as appropriate, children's pensions are paid. Attributable widow(er)'s pensions are significantly enhanced, index-linked and paid for life, regardless of whether the widow(er) remarries or cohabits. The attributable widow's or widower's pension is 90 per cent. of the member's full career pension, less an abatement to reflect the amount by which the WPS war widow's or widower's pension exceeds the basic state widow's pension. Attributable children's pensions are also enhanced and index-linked, and are paid until age 17; they may remain in payment until a later age if higher education is undertaken. The WPS provides additional compensation for families of those service personnel whose death is attributable to their service. This includes a tax-free War Widow's or Widower's Pension.
	In my written statement of 20 March 2003, Official Report, column 54WS, I announced that unmarried partners, including same sex partners, of service personnel whose death was attributable to conflict-related service would be eligible for ex-gratia benefits equivalent to those awarded to spouses under the AFPS. Partners would need to demonstrate that the relationship was substantial. However, the policy change is not retrospective with respect to deaths occurring before 20 March and does not affect the WPS, which already has its own rules regarding unmarried partners.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has issued to the media (a) television footage and (b) still photographs of Iraqis taken prisoner by coalition forces in the invasion of Iraq.

Lewis Moonie: A very limited amount of television footage of Iraqi's taken prisoner, which was taken by the services' mobile news teams, has been issued to the media. We have also made some selected still photographs available.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi prisoners of war have been taken in the conflict; and how many (a) were injured and (b) are being cared for by coalition doctors.

Adam Ingram: United Kingdom forces are holding approximately 5,000 Iraqi prisoners of war. On 2 April 2003, 37 prisoners were being treated by UK military medical personnel. Of these, 35 had sustained battle related injuries and two were being treated for non-battle related illnesses.
	Information on other prisoners of war is a matter for the coalition member holding them.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi civilians have been (a) injured and (b) killed as a result of the conflict; and of those killed, how many have been buried.

Adam Ingram: We have made very clear our commitment to the welfare and future of the people of Iraq, and deeply regret any civilian casualties resulting from coalition action. However, it is impossible to know for sure how many civilians have been injured, or killed and subsequently buried. Figures presented by the Iraqi regime are likely to be inflated or distorted for propaganda purposes, and may include civilians injured or killed by Iraq's own forces.

Northern Ireland

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers of what regiment were photographed posing beside a loyalist paramilitary mural on 1 February; what disciplinary action has been taken against these soldiers and their commanding officer; and what measures have been taken to ensure this behaviour is not repeated.

Adam Ingram: 16 members of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire were photographed against a loyalist mural on 1 February. No disciplinary action has been taken against the soldiers although administrative action was taken against their Platoon Commander. Since the taking of the photograph instructions have been issued that murals are not to be used as a backdrop for group photographs.

Tritium

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on procurement of tritium.

Adam Ingram: Tritium has been produced for the defence programme at the electricity generating station at Chapelcross, Dumfriesshire. Our stocks are sufficient to meet requirements for the foreseeable future.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Average Earnings

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on the pay gap between average male and female earnings in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: The gender gap in hourly pay between men and women increased slightly from 18.5 per cent in 2001 to 18.9 per cent in 2002. ONS found the increase was due to a widening of the gap at the higher end of the earnings distribution. The gender pay gap for the bottom 75 per cent. of women narrowed over the same period from 13.3 per cent. to 12.8 per cent.

Child Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for Women what recent consultations the Minister has had with child care organisations in the last year regarding the provision of child care; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I have met with various child care organisations over the past six months, as well as speaking at the DayCare Trust conference last November. As part of last year's inter-departmental review of child care, my noble Friend the Minister for Sure Start conducted a broad consultation with organisations with an interest in child care.
	My Department is continuing to work with child care organisations to consider how we encourage more child care support to working parents, and support the child care business sector.

EU Equality Advisory Committee

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for Women pursuant to her answer of 27 February 2003, Official Report, column 651W, on the EU Equality Advisory Committee, if she will place the minutes to the EU Advisory Committee Meeting in the Library when they are available.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 24 March 2003
	The minutes of the EU Advisory Committee meeting on 9 October have not yet been published. They have to be approved by the Commission and then to be adopted by the Advisory Committee. It is expected that their adoption will take place at the Committee's next meeting on 28 May. After this date, the minutes will be publicly available and I shall place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

LeicestHER Event

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for Women what Government support was given to the LeicestHER event on 7 March.

Patricia Hewitt: As Minister for Women I was pleased to be involved in the second annual LeicestHERday activities which took place in Leicester as part of International Women's Day.
	No direct Government financial support was given to this event, but the East Midlands Development Agency contributed £12,000.
	The success of the day was due to the involvement and support of the many local partners and local women who took part in the weekend's activities.

Public Appointments

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for Women pursuant to her answer of 27 February 2003, Official Report, column 651W, on public appointments, if she will list the other bodies that have shown interest or plan to run similar events in 2003.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 24 March 2003
	We have distributed over 3,400 copies of "Get a Public Life", the practical guide on why and how to run your own seminars. I am aware of the following bodies or individuals that have run events already in 2003 or are planning to do so in the near future:
	Leicestershire Business Link;
	Equality Unit in Wales in partnership with Wales Women's National Coalition
	Waltham Forest Women in Public Life
	The Women's TUC
	The City Livery Club
	Yorkshire Forward and Fairplay
	Caroline Flint MP
	The Labour Party

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Gas Network

Peter Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made with the pilot schemes set up to test the practicalities of extending the gas network in rural areas; and if she will list the pilot schemes.

Brian Wilson: The report of the working group on extending the gas network made a number of recommendations, including a programme of pilot schemes to assist communities in non-gas areas with high concentrations of fuel poverty. In the absence of central funding for such a programme, the Government have worked with the industry and other interested parties to devise approaches to promoting connections to non-gas areas, drawing on existing funding schemes and using creative approaches. We expect the first industry-led pathfinder projects to begin in the coming months.

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: Central records indicate that contracts for accountancy services amount to £6,644,832 for the calendar year 2002.

British Energy

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will undertake a review of the liabilities of British Energy to examine what cost savings can be made.

Brian Wilson: Under the restructuring proposal announced by British Energy on 28 November 2002, the Government is taking financial responsibility for the company's historic spent fuel liabilities under contracts with BNFL, and underwriting new and enhanced arrangements by the company in the form of a new Nuclear Liabilities Fund (NLF) to meet decommissioning and other back-end liabilities.
	Under the operation of the NLF, the Government propose to put in place a series of controls and incentives to ensure that British Energy runs its nuclear power stations as though it were exclusively responsible for the discharge of nuclear liabilities.

British Energy

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she has received since 9 September 2002, which indicated that British Energy was offering electricity contracts for sale at below the wholesale market prices.

Brian Wilson: The Department receives regularly representations about the operation of the electricity market from a variety of sources. The implementation of the trading strategy announced by British Energy on 28 November 2002 as part of its restructuring proposals is a matter for the company.

British Energy

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with British Energy on financing the cost of installing flue gas de-sulpherisation of Eggborough power station since 9 September 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: My officials have discussed a wide range of matters with British Energy during this period. The installation of flue gas desulphurisation of Eggborough is an operational matter for British Energy.

British Energy

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her statement of 28 November 2002, Official Report, column 488, on British Energy, 
	(1)  if she will publish the evidence to support the statement that it was necessary to underwrite financial assistance to British Energy because it was the best way of securing the safety of the nuclear power stations;
	(2)  if she will publish the evidence to support the statement that it was necessary to underwrite financial assistance to British Energy because it was the best way of securing the security of electricity supply to the grid and customers.

Brian Wilson: Nuclear safety and security of electricity supplies are our main priorities for British Energy whether or not the company's restructuring proposals is successful. Our decision to support the company's proposal involved complex assessments stretching over many years. The detailed calculation of those assessments contain assumptions which are commercially confidential, under Exemption 13, Third Party commercial confidences of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

British Energy

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 26 March 2003, Official Report, column 221W, on British Energy, whether an application has been made to draw on the current facility to finance the cost of installing flue gas de-sulphurisation at British Energy's Eggborough Power Station (a) directly and (b) indirectly.

Brian Wilson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 685W, on British Energy. Details of individual applications are also commercially confidential, under Exemption 13, Third Party commercial confidence of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by her Department and which took place on non-Departmental premises in the last 12 months, broken down by title, purpose, date and cost.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department does not keep central records of such events. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns between April 2002 and March 2003; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to (a) television, (b) radio and (c) print media.

Patricia Hewitt: Provisional DTI advertising spend in 2002–03 through the Central Office of Information was £11.7 million. The campaign breakdown was as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Campaign Television Radio Press Other Total 
		
		
			 UK Online for Business 1,100,000 329,211 506,582 947,039 2,882,832 
			 Export Licence — — 10,131 178 10,309 
			 Import Licence — — 88,685 1,553 90,238 
			 Miscellaneous — — 338,111 13,763 351,874 
			 SBS Business Link 3,051,141 979,907 1,191,389 697,977 5,920,414 
			 Fireworks Campaign — — — 190,715 190,715 
			 National Minimum Wage — — 300,388 17,082 317,470 
			 Parental Rights — — 650,910 225,531 876,441 
			 Consumer Gateway — — — 43,483 43,483 
			 Quality Mark — 109,365 439,045 430,374 978,784 
			 Ex-miners Compensation — — 85,472 4,594 90,066 
			 Total 4,151,141 1,418,483 3,610,713 2,572,289 11,752,626

Energy Consumption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of UK household energy usage requirements by region were for (a) manufacturing and industry, (b) transport and (c) providing heat, in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Brian Wilson: Total energy consumption by region and final use is not currently available. Data on gas consumption by gas local distribution zone is published in Table 4B of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2002; data on electricity distributed by public electricity suppliers by region is contained in Table 5B of the same publication, with inland deliveries of petroleum by country shown in Table 3.9.
	The DTI will continue to develop the work on regional energy consumption and the Energy White Paper "Our energy future—creating a low carbon economy" says that we will be consulting on arrangements to collect and make available data on the pattern of energy usage in local areas, to enable local authorities and regional bodies to target activity more effectively. This is one of a number of measures to be taken to help local and regional bodies to ensure energy objectives are reflected in regional and local priorities. This will help the DTI to develop a more detailed and consistent system for a regional analysis of some fuels.

Energy Consumption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the role of wood-burning fuel in the Government's renewable energy policy; and what steps the Government is taking to encourage its promotion as an alternative source of heat production;
	(2)  how much funding the Government has allocated towards (a) the creation and development of energy crops and (b) the utilisation of fuel wood from existing forests, with regard to the aim of heat production.

Brian Wilson: The Government recognises that wood-burning fuel has significant potential in the UK. Wood fuel is an eligible source for the Renewable Obligations, which came into force on 1 April 2002, and electricity supplied by generators fired on wood fuel will qualify for Renewable Obligation Certificates in dedicated biomass plant or through co-firing under certain conditions.
	A number of programmes have been launched to support and promote bioenergy in the UK, including utilisation of wood fuel. £66 million has been made available by DTI and the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund to stimulate early deployment of biomass-fired technology for heat, combined heat and power and electricity generation. From this allocation, grants worth over £4 million were announced in January to support the establishment of wood-fired heat clusters throughout the UK.
	DEFRA, as part of its England Rural Development Programme, has made available £29 million for the establishment of energy crops including short rotation coppice (SRC) under the Energy Crops Scheme.
	The Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, co-ordinated by the Forestry Commission in mainland UK and Forest Services in Northern Ireland, provides grants to create and manage woodland, which can help in the production of wood fuel. The Woodland Grant Scheme also supports the establishment of SRC in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
	The Clear Skies Initiative, a £10 million grants programme launched by DTI in February, supports eligible community and domestic wood fired heating projects.

European Funding

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will publish its proposals for replacing European structural funds with its own regional funding system; whether the Government will ensure that all Objective 1 and 2 areas receive the same level of funding as they receive under the Objective 1 and 2 programmes; whether all Objective 1 and 2 areas will continue to receive pound for pound matching funding for regeneration programmes; whether the Government's proposals will offer the same seven-year guarantee of funding as that offered by the Commission's proposals; whether the Government will maintain the same level of non-structural regeneration funding to Objective 1 and 2 areas over this period; and whether money will be targeted at Objective 1 and 2 areas whose economic performance is below that of the national average.

Alan Johnson: The Government set out their proposals for the future of the European Structural Funds post-2006 in "A Modern Regional Policy for the United Kingdom" which was published on 6 March; a parliamentary statement was issued on that day. This paper puts forward a new EU Framework for Devolved Regional Policy, and launches a consultation on the proposition that this should form the basis for a UK negotiating position in the debate in Europe. The consultation period ends on 4 July.
	It is not possible at this stage to be precise about the details of how the Framework and funding will operate in individual regions. However, approximately three-quarters of UK regional development funding already comes directly from the UK Government. And, if the Government's proposals for the future of the Structural Funds were accepted, the Government would guarantee that regional spending would be increased so that the nations and regions of the UK receive a level of resources which ensures that they do not lose out from the UK's proposals on Structural Funds reform, for example from the transitional funding they would automatically have received from the application of the eligibility criteria to EU 25 instead of EU15.
	The Government have already introduced three-year multi-annual budgeting to encourage long-term planning. And the Government guarantee on future regional spending would extend over the entire seven-year period of the next EU Financial Perspective. As part of this guarantee, the Government would commit to ensuring that the nations and regions have sufficient resources to continue to be able to promote regional productivity and employment from increased UK Government spending on regional policy, targeted on those areas of high unemployment and low GDP.
	The Government have also committed to a new PSA to
	"make sustainable improvements in the economic performance of all English regions and, over the long term, reduce the gap in growth rate between the regions, defining measures to improve performance and reporting progress against these measures by 2006".

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what rate of return will be expected on the trading fund of the Export Credits Guarantee Department; what proportion of guarantees by value she expects it to cover; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: ECGD and HM Treasury are currently working on the policy and objectives, financial and regulatory frameworks and operational details of the ECGD Trading Fund. The aim is to complete this work by the summer recess. There has therefore been no decision yet as to the rate of return that the ECGD Trading Fund will be expected to generate, but the Government's policy remains that ECGD's premium rates will not be increased to pay a return on capital.
	The Trading Fund will cover all guarantees issued by ECGD, with the exception of instances where guarantees are issued under Ministerial Instruction, used only rarely in the past. The Government have made a firm commitment that ECGD will continue to support broadly the same amount of business as it does now, but given that the precise volume of ECGD's future business, it is not possible to divide the business in the way the hon. Member has requested.

Fur Imports

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what customs classifications apply to animal furs being imported into the country; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many fur pelts have been imported under the customs classification of other fur since January 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The commodity headings used, since 2000, for classifying animal furs being imported into the United Kingdom are given in the table. The classification is based on the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System, which incorporates the Combined Nomenclature of the European Communities. Within the UK, responsibility for the classification lies primarily with HM Customs and Excise.
	
		
			 Commodity Description Notes 
		
		
			 43011000 Raw furskins of mink, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43012000 Raw furskins of rabbit or hare, whole, with or without head, tail or paws (a) 
			 43013000 Raw furskins of lamb, the following: Astrakhan, Broadtail, Caracul, Persian and similar lambs, Indian, Chinese, Mongolian or Tibetan lambs, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43014000 Raw furskins of beaver, whole, with or without head, tail or paws (a) 
			 43015000 Raw furskins of muskrat, whole, with or without head, tail or paws (a) 
			 43016000 Raw furskins of fox, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43017010 Raw furskins of whitecoat pups of harp seal and of pups of hooded seal (blue-backs), whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43017090 Raw furskins of other seal, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43018010 Raw furskins of sea otter or of nutria (coypu), whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43018030 Raw furskins of marmot, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43018050 Raw furskins of wild felines, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43018090 Other raw furskins, whole, with or without head, tail or paws (a) 
			 43018095 Other raw furskins (including rabbit, hare, beaver or muskrat), whole, with or without head, tail or paws (b) 
			 43019000 Raw heads, tails, paws and other pieces or cuttings, suitable for furriers' use  
			 43021100 Tanned or dressed furskins of mink, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021200 Tanned or dressed furskins of rabbit or hare, whole, with or without head, tail or paws (c) 
			 43021935 Tanned or dressed furskins of rabbit or hare, whole, with or without head, tail or paws (d) 
			 43021300 Tanned or dressed furskins of lamb, the following: Astrakhan, Broadtail, Caracul, Persian and similar lambs, Indian, Chinese, Mongolian or Tibetan lambs, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021910 Tanned or dressed furskins of beaver, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021920 Tanned or dressed furskins of muskrat, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021930 Tanned or dressed furskins of fox, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021941 Tanned or dressed furskins of whitecoat pups of harp seal and of pups of hooded seal (blue-backs), whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021949 Tanned or dressed furskins of other seal, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021950 Tanned or dressed furskins of sea otter or of nutria (coypu), whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021960 Tanned or dressed furskins of marmot, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021970 Tanned or dressed furskins of wild felines, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021980 Tanned or dressed furskins of sheep or lambs, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43021995 Other tanned or dressed furskins, whole, with or without head, tail or paws  
			 43022000 Tanned or dressed heads, tails, paws and other pieces or cuttings, suitable for furriers' use  
			 43023010 "Dropped" furskins  
			 43023021 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of mink  
			 43023025 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of rabbit or hare  
			 43023031 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of lamb, the following: Astrakhan, Broadtail, Caracul, Persian and similar lambs, Indian, Chinese, Mongolian or Tibetan lambs  
			 43023035 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of beaver  
			 43023041 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of muskrat  
			 43023045 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of fox  
			 43023051 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of whitecoat pups of harp seal and of pups of hooded seal (blue-backs)  
			 43023055 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of other seal  
			 43023061 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of sea-otter or nutria (coypu)  
			 43023065 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of marmot  
			 43023071 Whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped", of wild felines  
			 43023075 Other whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped"  
		
	
	Notes:
	From 2002, the four codes indicated by (a) were replaced by the one code indicated by (b). Changes such as these are negotiated as part of the continuing process of international harmonisation of customs codes negotiated at the World Customs Organisation and at EU level in the General Rules Committee. Also from 2002, the code indicated by (c) was replaced by the code indicated by (d).
	UK imports of fur classified under "other" categories, since January 2000, in metric tonnes, are given in the table. In 2002 imports of furs classified as "other" were a third lower than in 2000 and nearly 90 per cent. lower than in 2001, despite including some additional products, as described under note (e) to the table.
	
		
			 Commodity code Description 2000 2001 2002 January 2003 
		
		
			 43018090 Other raw furskins, whole, with or without head, tail or paws 9.5 859.0 (e) (e) 
			 43018095 Other raw furskins, whole, with or without head, tail or paws (e) (e) 27.4 2.4 
			 43021995 Other tanned or dressed furskins, whole, with or without head, tail or paws 129.2 66.6 60.6 3.2 
			 43022000 Tanned or dressed heads, tails, paws and other pieces or cuttings, suitable for furriers' use 3.3 1.5 1.1 0.0 
			 43023075 Other whole furskins and pieces or cuttings thereof, assembled other than "dropped" 24.0 24.8 20.1 0.4 
		
	
	(e) Until 2001, raw furskins of rabbit or hare, beaver and muskrat were separately identified. Since 2002 any imports of these products would have been included under code 43018095 as explained in notes concerning commodity codes (a) and (b) in the previous table.

Iran

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value of (a) exports to and (b) imports from Iran were in the last year for which figures are available.

Nigel Griffiths: The value of UK exports in 2002 was £402 million; imports were worth £36 million. These statistics are published by HM Customs and Excise in the December 2002 issue of OTS1, Overseas Trade Statistics, UK Trade with Countries Outside the European Community.

Iraq

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which British companies have (a) tendered for and (b) been awarded (i) contracts and (ii) sub-contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq.

Patricia Hewitt: We wish to see UK companies play a substantial role in the humanitarian and redevelopment process in Iraq. We understand that a number of UK companies are pursuing contracts for post-conflict redevelopment work. It would not be appropriate to name individual companies.

Medical Research Council

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what plans she has to assess the working practices of the Medical Research Council; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans the Medical Research Council has to fund future alpha rated research projects;
	(3)  what plans the Medical Research Council has made to increase funding for research into obstetrics; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what plans she has to assess the funding and management of the Medical Research Council.

Patricia Hewitt: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is internationally renowned for its promotion of excellent medical research. Its core mission is to support research that will have an impact on human health. Everyone is in agreement that it does this very well.
	The Office of Science and Technology (OST) has processes in place to review the planned activities of all the Research Councils. Each council, including the MRC, submits an annual Operating Plan which sets out their planning and funding assumptions for the following year. The MRC will be publishing its 2003–04 Operating Plan on its website in due course.
	Some of the recommendations and conclusions of the Select Committee report on the MRC issued on 25 March related to management and planning. We will be responding in detail to the recommendations of the SC report in due course and as part of this will consider what additional elements we might need to introduce in this specific case into the standard monitoring and reporting processes that we have with Research Councils in order to address the issues identified.
	OST recognised some time ago that the processes underpinning the ability of the MRC to make a judgment of the financial implications of forward commitments could be improved. OST have been working with them to address this and are pleased with the progress made to date.
	The MRC does not normally earmark funds for particular topics: research proposals in all areas will compete for the funding available. The MRC spent an estimated £19.1 million in 2001–02 on its reproductive health portfolio. Reproductive health research includes normal and abnormal fetal and placental development and growth, as well as conditions affecting pregnancy and childbirth.
	The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding. Awards will continue to be made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health.
	In respect to funding alpha rated research projects, it is not possible to anticipate the number of applications MRC will receive, nor what the outcome of the subsequent peer review and rating will be at this stage in the cycle. However, set out as follows is a table representing the MRC's current estimate of the value of awards MRC will be making over the coming session:
	Estimates for funding for sessions 2003–04 to 2005–06
	These figures reflect the estimated value of awards which the MRC could make for the session which runs September to July as a useful guide to applicants. Alpha rated research projects would be included in all but the third row of the table. Whole life award values are the total value of awards. (A grant of £1 million per annum would show as a total of £5 million in the table). They do not represent MRC's annual expenditure on awards.
	
		Whole life award values -- £ million
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Provision for renewals of existing long-term investments (grants and units), to meet anticipated demand 65 105 180 
			 Career Establishment Grants 6 6 6 
			 Training/Career Development: Fellowships and studentships 39 40 41 
			 SR2002 specific initiatives 0 45 105 
			 All other new awards 30 29 38 
			 Totals 140 225 370 
		
	
	These estimates are necessarily very approximate since final totals still depend critically on the mix of awards made from the different forms of MRC support and assume no other change in MRC's circumstances or calls on its budget.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the expected saving to public funds from the private finance initiative schemes due to become operational in 2003.

Patricia Hewitt: There are no PFI schemes due to become operational in 2003 within the Department.

Solar Energy

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will make a decision on funding for phase 2 of the Solar PV Major Demonstration Programme in 2003–04; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The success of the £20 million first phase of the Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme will be reviewed against its objectives in the first half of 2004, and a decision on funding for any subsequent phase will be made thereafter.

Temporary Workers Directive

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had on the appropriateness of Article 137 of the Nice Treaty as a legal base for the proposed EU Directive on Temporary Workers; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The UK has raised the question of whether a directive with a treaty base of Article 137(6) can cover pay. The European Commission and several other member states are of the view that it can because it only addresses pay in terms of non-discrimination and does not set absolute pay levels. The Government have continued to reserve their position on the inclusion of pay under Article 137 pending further clarification of the definition of pay.

Travel Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of travel by train by staff in her Department in 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: Information in respect of the year 2002 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In 1997–98 sampling carried out in preparing the Department's Green Transport Plan indicated that about 90 per cent. of travel by staff for official business was by public transport, mostly by train. It is estimated that the cost of this rail travel was about £1.3 million.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Food Imports

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) beef, (b) lamb, (c) port and (d) chicken was imported into the United Kingdom during the last 12 months; and from which countries these imports are allowed.

Elliot Morley: During the last 12 months the United Kingdom has imported, 224,000 tonnes of beef, 102,000 tonnes of lamb, 291,000 tonnes of pork and 305,000 tonnes of poultry meat.
	Meat imports are permitted provided that the exporting country is approved to export to the EU; the meat is accompanied by appropriate animal and public health certification and that the meat originates from EU approved establishments.

Food Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps she has taken to strengthen the system of checks on food imports.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 25 March 2003
	The EU operates a system of strict controls on imports of animal products. All products of animal origin must be checked on entry into the UK at a border inspection post (BIP). Following the outbreak of FMD, the State Veterinary Service have introduced an audit programme for BIPs to ensure consistent application of these import checks. During the visits officers provide advice to BIPs and monitor progress to correct any deficiencies found.
	Additional measures have been introduced at ports and airports to tackle illegal imports. Temporary agency staff attached to the local and port health authorities and funded by Defra, have been recruited to carry out checks to detect smuggled goods—teams of six are based at our major airports and teams of two at major seaports. We are also paying for additional checks through overtime elsewhere. Further inspection resources have also been provided through the detector dog pilot, and a publicity campaign which has targeted ports, airports and points of departure. We have announced that with effect from 11April, HM Customs and Excise will be taking over responsibility for anti-smuggling activity since they have the infrastructure, intelligence and experience to target more effectively.
	The Food Standards Agency has responsibility for public health checks on all other imported foods. Following a Cabinet Office review of checks on imports the Food Standards Agency are leading a step change project to deliver improved co-ordination of all imported food controls by local authorities and port health authorities at seaports, airports and inland.

Waste Incinerators

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many waste incinerators have been (a) approved and (b) built since May 1997.

Michael Meacher: I understand that since 1997 19 municipal incinerators have been approved for operation or a change in operation by the Environment Agency under relevant pollution control legislation. Of these eight have been built or substantially modified, and have commenced or re-commenced operation.

Farmers' Markets

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what further support she intends to give to farmers' markets.

Alun Michael: We welcome the development of farmers' markets and the benefits they can bring consumers and farmers alike. Farmers' markets continue to be eligible for support under the Rural Enterprise Scheme and the Agriculture Development Scheme, provided that the projects for which funding is sought meet the required eligibility criteria. A number of projects relating to farmers' markets have received funding under these schemes. In addition, the National Association of Farmers' Markets continues to receive financial support from the Countryside Agency, which we grant-aid.

Climate Change

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the impact on climate change of aviation.

Michael Meacher: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has estimated that forcing of the climate due to aviation was responsible for 3.5 per cent. of man-made forcing of the climate in 1992. Forcing due to aviation is projected to grow by between 2.6 and 11 times by 2050. This is projected to be equivalent to 3 per cent. to 15 per cent. of total man-made forcing of the climate in 2050. The aviation industry, like other industries, needs to pay for the environmental damage that it causes, and the Government will shortly be holding discussions with stakeholders on the appropriate use of economic instruments to achieve this.

Electronic Collars for Animals

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her policy on electric shock collars for animals.

Elliot Morley: I have just completed a consultation exercise on animal welfare law. I would not wish to make any announcement concerning official views on electronic collars for animals in advance of any announcement of the measures that may be introduced as part of the Animal Welfare Bill.

Flood Protection (Rural Areas)

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the public money made available to fund flood protection in rural areas.

Elliot Morley: Defra provides grant aid on capital flood and coastal defence projects that meet specified criteria and an appropriate priority score but decisions regarding which projects to promote and their timing rest with operating authorities. The Government's provision overall is set to rise to £564 million in 2005–06 but provision is not made within this specifically for rural areas.

Agri-environment Schemes

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on her Department's agri-environment schemes.

Michael Meacher: The Department has received 150 external responses to the consultation on a draft framework for future agri-environment schemes in England that closed at the end of February 2003. These responses are currently being analysed and we will publish the results once this exercise is complete.
	Defra also continues to receive a small number of individual representations on this subject.

Agri-monetary Compensation (Buckinghamshire)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money has been paid in agri-monetary compensation in the county of Buckinghamshire since 9 January 2002.

Alun Michael: The RPA has paid £222,358.12 in agri-monetary compensation in the county of Buckinghamshire between 9 January 2002 and the end of March 2003.

Aquaculture

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to promote research and development in aquaculture.

Elliot Morley: The LINK Aquaculture programme, launched in 1996 and sponsored by Defra, SEERAD and the National Environment Research Council contributed approximately £5.3 million to thirty-seven R and D projects, which, together with industry match funding, created an R and D programme valued at approximately £10 million. The Defra contribution to this was £2.2 million. This highly successful programme which comes to an end this year has been subject to comprehensive independent review, see the Defra website (http://www.defra.gov.uk/esg/economics/econeval/LINK–Aqua.PDF).
	Defra's average current annual spend on research into sustainable aquaculture and fish/shellfish health issues is £1.75 million. In 2002 Defra provisionally set aside £1 million for funding finfish and shellfish aquaculture research jointly with industry and with other sponsors over the next five years. My officials are giving careful consideration to the priority research areas which the various sectors of the industry identified and discussed with sponsors at a recent meeting of the UK-wide Committee for Aquaculture Research and Development.

Bovine TB

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the reasons for TB infections in cattle; and what estimate she has made of the percentage of cases that involve cattle-to-cattle transmission.

Elliot Morley: The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) attaches a high priority to the relative importance of cattle-to-cattle transmission, but it is not possible to put a percentage figure on it at present. Current research will help fill the gaps. While the badger culling trial is looking at the part badgers might play in the transmission of cattle TB, other research, such as the TB99 epidemiological questionnaire and cattle pathogenesis studies, should provide data about cattle-to-cattle transmission. A research project looking at TB in herds restocked after the foot and mouth outbreak should also provide valuable data. A preliminary analysis of the risk factors associated with cattle TB is set out in the ISG's Third Report, which is available online at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/isg/report/isg3.pdf

CAP Review

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will next meet EU partners to discuss the Mid-Term CAP Review.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, will next meet EU partners to discuss reform of the CAP at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 8 April.

Departmental Creche Facilities

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what creche facilities are provided by her Department; and at what cost.

Alun Michael: Defra provide 149 full-time subsidised nursery places for Departmental and Agency staff at six sites. The actual number of children using the nurseries is higher than this figure due to many of the places being allocated on a part-time basis. The cost of nursery places and the amount of subsidy varies for each location.
	School holiday playscheme places are also available to Departmental and Agency staff working at eight sites. The number of users varies at each site and for each school holiday period.
	The overall cost of this provision for the HQ offices (York and London) during the 2002–2003 financial year is estimated to be £88,500. Childcare facilities at other sites are funded from local budgets. Defra keeps its childcare provision arrangements under regular review.

English Rural Development Programme

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 17 March 2003, Official Report, column 502W, on the English Rural Development Programme, how much of each of the amounts shown is accounted for by expenditure already agreed to; and how much is available to new applicants, broken down by scheme in each case.

Alun Michael: The planned expenditure on schemes under the England Rural Development Programme is broken down as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
			  Expenditure on existing agreements Funds availablefor new applications Expenditure on existing agreements Funds availablefor new applications Expenditure on existing agreements Funds availablefor new applications 
		
		
			 Countryside Stewardship Scheme(1) 72.5 8.5 65.6 30.4 55.7 55.3 
			 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme 45.2 2.8 45.2 2.8 45.2 2.8 
			 Organic Farming Scheme 6.5 15.5 2.4 20.6 1.5 21.5 
			 Farm Woodland Premium Scheme 10.7 0.3 10.4 1.6 10.4 2.6 
			 Woodland Grant Scheme 7.4 13.6 5.4 16.6 4.1 17.9 
			 Hill Farm Allowance(2) 34.8 0.0 27.2 0.0 27.2 0.0 
			 Rural Enterprise Scheme 10.2 13.8 2.3 33.7 0.7 35.3 
			 Processing and Marketing Grant 6.6 1.4 1.5 6.5 0.3 7.7 
			 Vocational Training Scheme 1.7 2.3 0.8 3.2 0.2 3.8 
			 Energy Crops Scheme 0.1 4.9 0.0 5.0 0.0 5.0 
		
	
	(1) The rising profile of available funds for new applications will be reduced each year by the expenditure on applications approved in the preceding year(s).
	(2) Expenditure on the Hill Farm Allowance is determined by claims from farmers in the Less Favoured Areas who in any one year have an eligible forage area and keep sheep and/or breeding cattle. Payment rates are set according to demand and the available funds. The budget is planned to be spent in full each year.
	The budget for each of the schemes is kept under review, and some limited re-balancing of the available funds may be necessary, with European Commission approval as required, to meet the changing priorities of the Programme.

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the statement made by the hon. Member for Wentworth on 3 February, Official Report, column 5WS, on the landfill tax credit scheme, 
	(1)  how much her Department is paying ENTRUST to administer the transitional funding application process in England; and whether this activity of ENTRUST for the public sector is being subsidised by private sector payments to ENTRUST;
	(2)  what the terms of engagement are between DEFRA and ENTRUST regarding ENTRUST's administration of the transitional funding application process in England.

Michael Meacher: To administer the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS) Sustainable Waste Management Legacy Fund, ENTRUST will receive a fee of 2 per cent. of the total amount distributed (i.e. if the Fund distributes £20 million to eligible applicants, the administration fee received will be £400,000). The precise figure will not be known until all applications have been processed. The closing date for applications is 31 March. This fee is in line with the separate payment ENTRUST receives to regulate the LTCS and represents good value for money. The cost of administering the Legacy Fund is not being subsidised by payments from tax credits to regulate the LTCS.
	The rules of engagement between Defra and ENTRUST regarding the administration of the Fund are set out in a memorandum of understanding between the two parties. A copy of this memorandum will be posted on the ENTRUST website.

Live Animal Transportation

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has collated about the European Commission's policy on the future of live animal transportation.

Elliot Morley: The European Commission has stated that it intends to present a proposal to replace the existing EU legislation on the welfare of animals during transport and that this proposal will aim at:
	providing more harmonised and stricter procedures in order to ensure better enforcement. This aspect will relate to the conditions for transporters, road drivers and vehicles to be authorised, certificates for transporters, drivers and vehicles and exchange of information between national authorities in case of infringements;
	updating the technical standards in line with the new scientific data on animal transport provided by the 2002 report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare. This report covers a wide range of subjects, and in particular, includes aspects on travelling time sequences, space allowances, training of drivers, fitness of animals to be transported, higher standards for the transport of horses and requirements for the means of transport;
	extending some training and operational requirements for livestock markets; and
	providing detailed rules for livestock vessels.
	This statement and additional information following public consultation by the Commission on this topic at the end of 2002 is set out on the European Commission's website under the work of the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General.

Lobsters

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to introduce a statutory instrument to ban the landing of buried lobsters; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: We have held a consultation exercise with the industry and there was broad consensus that, in the absence of an established European management regime,we should act to provide additional protection for lobster stocks. As soon as resources become available we will publish a draft Statutory Instrument to prevent the landing of buried lobsters. This will be subject to the normal consultation process.

Power Stations

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the sulphur bubble she calculates arises from power stations operating during 1996 to 2000.

Alun Michael: I presume that this question refers to a sulphur dioxide 'bubble' in a national plan under the revised Large Combustion Plant Directive (2001/80/EC) for plants that were in existence in 1987. We have a choice whether to implement the revised Directive for these plants by the emission limits approach or by adopting the national plan approach. Measures under the Directive would apply to these plants from 2008. If we adopted the national plan approach, we expect power stations in the electricity supply industry to contribute about 66 per cent. to the calculation of the bubble, which would be about 177 kilo tonnes. This is based on current information about operation of these plants between 1996 and 2000.

Power Stations

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the quantity of coal to be burnt in UK power stations in 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	The most recent energy projections for the UK, published as Energy Paper 68 in November 2000, show an estimated range for coal demand in the major power stations of approximately nine to 20 million tonnes of oil equivalent in the year 2010. This corresponds to a coal tonnage of around 15 to 31 million tonnes. The estimated range is based on two different energy price assumptions, a working assumption for the means by which operators would react to the revised large combustion plant directive and a number of other assumptions.
	As noted in supporting material published alongside the Energy White Paper, coal burn in electricity generation over the past couple of years has been higher than levels that might have been expected based on Energy Paper 68. In the light of recent market experience and policy developments we will be moving on to review the projections.
	Illustrative figures in supporting material to the Energy White Paper indicate that coal can continue to make a significant contribution to the UK's future energy needs, but the White Paper acknowledges that coal may face increasing pressures from an environmental perspective.

Power Stations

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the terms of reference are of ENTEC to consider the New Large Combustion Plants Directive; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: ENTEC is undertaking consultancy work on the revised Large Combustion Plant Directive (2001/80/EC) for plant that were in existence in 1987. This work is primarily focussing on establishing the costs and benefits of the implementation options under the revised Directive. We have a choice whether to implement the revised Directive for these plants by the emission limits approach or by adopting the national plan approach, and results from the consultancy work will inform our decision. Measures under the Directive would apply to these plants from 2008.

Rural Payments Agency

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons are for delays in payments to farmers by the Rural Payments Agency regarding set-aside land after grass crops; and what information the Rural Payments Agency may require in order to effect the payments as speedily as possible.

Alun Michael: The payments to farmers to which the hon. Member refers result from a decision of the European Court of Justice in a case concerning penalties imposed in the United Kingdom for set-aside following grass. That decision was subsequently clarified in a judgment of the High Court of England and Wales on 14 November 2002.
	Defra lawyers are currently awaiting a response from the NFU lawyers in respect of those farmers in the group litigation. Of those 260 farmers affected by the judgment who are not in the group litigation, 188 have already been contacted for further information relating to the cultivation and harvesting of grass from the areas of land that had been the subject of penalties. 27 of these cases have been rejected as not meeting the relevant criteria for settlement.

Six-day Rule

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) farming unions and (b) organisers of rural fairs and festivals regarding the effect of the six-day rule.

Elliot Morley: Defra Ministers and officials regularly meet and correspond with farming union representatives and other stakeholders, including agricultural shows organisers, on a number of animal health matters.

Water Meters

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many water meters were installed in houses (a) in England and Wales and (b) in the Buckingham constituency in 2001–02.

Elliot Morley: The net increase in the number of household customers charged on the basis of metering for the year 2001–02, in England and Wales, was 230,915.
	Information is not collected on a constituency basis.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Aid Convoy Protection

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with aid agencies about protection for aid convoys being provided by the British military.

Clare Short: The UK military is working to establish safe and secure environments in the areas of Iraq it controls. This will allow humanitarian agencies to enter and provide humanitarian assistance where it is needed. It is likely that some areas will be made secure quickly; others will take longer.
	NGOs based in Kuwait have been given passes to enter southern Iraq and are intending to enter soon. The UN is carrying out its own security assessment of parts of southern Iraq, the results of which will determine the timing of UN operations there.
	Aid agencies prefer to operate within a 'humanitarian space' made secure by the controlling forces rather than being directly escorted by military forces. The latter could be seen to undermine the independence and impartiality the agencies require to gain access to those in need.

Hague Convention

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to encourage countries to sign the Hague Convention.

Clare Short: Our objective is to support countries in their plans to eliminate poverty. Our discussions with them focus on the most effective way we can work in partnership with them to achieve this.

HIPC

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanisms are in place to ensure the proper ownership of the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative by debtor nations.

Clare Short: The enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative was agreed by the international community at the Annual Meetings of the World bank and the IMF in September 1999. These institutions work jointly with the HIPC countries to assess the level of debt relief required to bring debt sustainability ratios down to the HIPC thresholds—150 per cent. debt to export earnings and 250 per cent. debt to government revenue. Linked to this process, countries are required to develop national poverty reduction strategies setting out how government resources, including savings from debt relief, will be spent. These strategies, which are produced in consultation with civil society and donors, are increasingly owned and led by the countries themselves, reflecting a fundamental change in the relationship between donors and developing country partners.

HIPC

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking, along with other donor country governments, to improve long-term debt sustainability in heavily indebted poor countries.

Clare Short: The UK, along with other donors, is committed to countries exiting the HIPC process with sustainable levels of debt. The World bank and the IMF have agreed to provide additional debt relief at Completion Point to those countries that have suffered a fundamental change in their economic circumstances due to external shocks. The UK is pressing these institutions to widen their approach to topping up, so that any HIPC eligible country facing unsustainable debts, that has demonstrated its commitment to poverty reduction and economic reform, should qualify for this additional relief. It is essential that countries take strong measures to improve their economic position in order to maintain long term debt sustainability. This means strengthening their debt management offices, taking out new borrowing on concessional terms only, and diversifying their export markets. Through the multi donor HIPC Capacity Building Programme, we are helping countries to learn to plan and manage their debt more effectively, and to negotiate with their creditors better terms on their external debts.

Humanitarian Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for how many protracted humanitarian crises the UK Government is providing aid (a) directly and (b) through the UN.

Clare Short: My Department is providing aid to 13 protracted humanitarian crises, some of the funding goes through the UN agencies and other humanitarian agencies.
	Afghanistan
	Burma
	Democratic Republic of Congo
	Ethiopia
	Guinea
	Liberia
	Iraq
	Palestine
	Sierra Leone
	Southern Africa
	North Korea
	Cote D'Ivoire
	North Caucasus

Infant Malnutrition

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what information she has collated on the number of children aged under five years who have died of malnutrition in each of the last five years in (a) Afghanistan, (b) Cote d'Ivoire, (c) Ethiopia, (d) Iraq, (e) Malawi, (f) Palestine and (g) Pakistan.

Clare Short: Malnutrition is rarely a direct cause of death in children. However, it is frequently an underlying cause, and estimates suggest it is a contributing factor in over 50 per cent. of all deaths in children under five years of age. This is because malnourished children have lowered resistance to infection, and are more likely to die from common diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia.
	Because it is normally a contributing factor rather than a direct cause, reliable figures on numbers of deaths from malnutrition are difficult to obtain, and tend not to reflect the true nature of the situation. The proportion of children under the age of five years who are underweight is generally considered a better measure on nutritional status within a particular country. National data is rarely available on an annual basis, but the most recent figures, and the total number of deaths in children under the age of five years are given in the table for the countries you have requested.
	
		
			 Country Percentage of under-fives underweight (1995–2000) Under 5 mortality rate (per 1000 live births), 2000 
		
		
			 Afghanistan 48 257 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 21 173 
			 Ethiopia 47 174 
			 Iraq 16 130 
			 Malawi 25 188 
			 Palestine 4 25 
			 Pakistan 38 110 
		
	
	Sources:
	Unicef and WDI

Iran

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which aid projects her Department supports in Iran.

Clare Short: Since 1999 my Department has been supporting the work of the AMAR International Charitable Foundation in Iran for medical and sanitary support for Iraqi refugees from the southern marsh area of Iraq, both in and outside of designated refugee camps. This support so far has been for a total of £1.45 million.

Iraq

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contingency plans she has to provide reconstruction assistance to Iraq in the event of no further resolution being made by the United Nations relating to reconstruction in Iraq.

Clare Short: A UN mandate for reconstruction is a legal requirement for UK involvement in significant reform of Iraqi institutions, and a precondition for the engagement of the World bank, the International Monetary Fund and many countries.
	Without a UN mandate the UK's assistance would have to be limited to providing humanitarian assistance and ensuring the continuity of the civil administration, according to our obligations under the Geneva and Hague conventions governing armed conflict.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to re-establish a logistical distribution team, funded by her Department, to handle the distribution of humanitarian aid in Iraq.

Clare Short: DFID's policy is to work through partner agencies such as the UN, International Committee of the Red Cross and NGOs who have relevant expertise and local experience in the distribution of humanitarian assistance.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Basra, Iraq.

Clare Short: Our daily published reports on the humanitarian situation in Iraq have reported regularly on the situation in Basra and the problems with water supplies.
	The World Health Organisation, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and others are very concerned about the possible health impact of ongoing water supply problems in Basra. We share these concerns. The ICRC are working to try to maintain and improve supplies.

Western Sahara

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she has made available to Saharan people living in refugee camps.

Clare Short: DFID's assistance to the Saharawi refugees is channelled through contributions to the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO). We believe that this collaborative approach towards funding, alongside our international partners, represents the best way of addressing the problems faced by the refugee population.
	A global plan for assistance to the Saharawi was agreed by the EC in May last year. This will provide 14.34 million euros (approximately £9 million) of assistance over a 15 month period. This brings the total assistance provided since 1993 to over 95 million euros, including over 79 million euros in food aid programme co-ordinated by ECHO, the World Food Programme and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Approximately 19 per cent. of this funding comes from my Department's budget.
	DFID also supports refugees through UNHCR including, but not specifically, Saharawi in camps in Algeria. My Department signed a four year Institutional Strategy Paper with UNHCR in 2002 which guarantees the agency core funding for each year of the partnership. For 2003 this contribution is £14 million. As this contribution is unearmarked it is difficult to ascertain exactly how much of the £14 million is spent in the context of this specific refugee situation.

TRANSPORT

Bus Companies

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of bus companies' income in 2002 was generated from (a) local and (b) national subsidies.

David Jamieson: Based on statistics for England (including London) in 2001–02, 25 per cent. of total bus company income was provided by local authorities and Transport for London, in the form of subsidy for bus services and reimbursement of concessionary fares. 10 per cent. was provided by my Department in the form of Bus Service Operators Grant (formerly called Fuel Duty Rebate).

Daylight Saving

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) the change in the number of lives lost per year and (b) the economic benefits if Britain adopted daylight saving.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 28 March 2003, Official Report, column 410W.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 623W.

Departmental Running Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the running costs in 2002 were of (a) his Ministers private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff, and (b) his Department.

David Jamieson: My Department was formed on 29 May 2002. Information in relation departmental running costs for 2002–03 will be published shortly in departmental appropriation and resource accounts.

EU Second Railway Package

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the EU Second Railway Package.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Transport, to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Falkirk East (Mr. Connarty) on the 2 April 2003, Official Report, columns 703–05W.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has given to independent assessors in the last two years; and what assessors were appointed to the Humber.

David Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) appointed an assessor in December 2001 in order to observe the transitional arrangements made by Associated British Ports to overcome the strike by their former pilots on the Humber. His findings are included in the Department's report on the new Humber pilotage service, which was published in April 2002.

Maritime Inspections

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) qualifications and (b) training are required for Maritime and Coastguard Agency inspectors to inspect living and working conditions on UK registered ships.

David Jamieson: On entry to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), marine surveyors must have a master mariner or chief engineer qualification, or a relevant maritime degree. Qualifications and experience are supplemented by internal training and guidance based on International Labour Organization (ILO) and UK requirements.
	In-service training is provided by experienced surveyors and a specialist food and hygiene inspector. The MCA also uses a competency framework to maintain and develop its surveyor skills, which includes Ship Health and Safety and Welfare. Training is kept under review.

Ministerial Meetings

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meetings of the 27 and 28 March with European transport ministers.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Transport, to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Falkirk East (Mr. Connarty) on the 2 April 2003, Official Report, columns 703–05W.

Rail Cards

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Association of Train Companies regarding the use of railcards for train journeys costing less than £10; and what his policy is on encouraging short journeys by train.

David Jamieson: Ministers have frequent discussions with representatives of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), at which a range of issues have been discussed, including their proposals for the use of the South East Network card. The availability of rail cards are not regulated. Decisions on its availability and conditions of use are therefore a matter for the train operators.

Railways

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on (a) recent changes and (b) planned changes to (i) funding arrangements for freight on the railways and (ii) his Department's strategy for increasing the volume of freight carried on Britain's rail network.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 25 February 2003, Official Report, column 486W.

Railways

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research has been used to assess passenger (a) personal security and (b) perceptions about their surroundings on the railways; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Department is currently reviewing passenger perceptions of personal security in public transport journeys. This review follows on from earlier Departmental research published in 1997. We are also currently identifying good practice on on-train personal security. Part of this work includes considering the perceptions of passengers.
	Analysing the perceptions of rail passengers has also been included in recent research projects to find out the transport needs of women, older people, and people from minority ethnic communities.
	The Secure Stations Scheme is a national accreditation scheme recognising set standards of good practice in rail station, staff and passenger security. An independent survey of passenger perceptions is undertaken as part of the station's application process.

Railways

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidences of arson on the railways there were in each year since 1995, broken down by (a) train operating company and (b) line.

David Jamieson: pursuant to his reply, 17 December 2002, c. 685W
	There is no legal obligation for the industry to report the TOC involved in an incident reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). However, since January 2000 the industry has agreed to record the TOC on a voluntary basis. Line details are reportable under RIDDOR but the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has only been able to capture this information since January 2000 with the introduction of its new database system.
	A table provided by the HSE, which records details of arson instances between January 2000 and March 2002 including the TOC and line involved, has been deposited in the Libraries of the House. In addition, a table provided by the British Transport Police on the number of reported incidents of arson since 1999 has also been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

Stansted Airport

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reasons underlie the differences between the projected capacity figures for the three expansion options for Stansted Airport outlined in The Future of Air Transport in the South East and SERAS report No. 51.

David Jamieson: The terminal capacities for both the one and three additional runway options at Stansted presented in the "Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East" do not differ from those quoted in the SERAS report No. 51 (Stansted options five and seven). Both documents quote capacities of 82 and 129 million passengers per annum (mppa) respectively.
	The consultation option for two new runways at Stansted was developed as a variant in the early stages of the study and is presented in the "SERAS Stage One Appraisal Findings report (section 4.1.9)". The capacity quoted for this option in the consultation document and that report is 102 mppa. Copies of all reports are available in the House Libraries.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Crime (Clear-up Rate)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the clear-up rate for crime was in each of the District Council Units in Belfast in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The following table shows notifiable offences recorded and cleared by the police in each of the District Command Units in Belfast for the period January—December 2002.
	These figures are provisional and may be subject to revision.
	
		
			 District Command Unit Recorded Cleared Clearance rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 Belfast East 8,257 1,210 14.7 
			 Belfast North 12,315 1,523 12.4 
			 Belfast South 18,373 2,737 14.9 
			 Belfast West 6,231 1,259 20.2

HMP Maghaberry

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to implement the recommendations set out in the recent report on HMP Maghaberry by HM Inspector of Prisons and to ensure that more female officers and managers are deployed in Mourne House.

Jane Kennedy: The Northern Ireland Prison Service have in place an action plan to implement the accepted recommendations contained in the HM Inspector of Prisons Report on Maghaberry Prison. The Service has also commissioned a feasibility study to address female prisoner and immigration detainee accommodation in light of a recent Strategic Prison Estate Review. The deployment of staff within the Service takes account of operational requirements and must be in line with equal opportunities regulations.

Murders

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many murder cases in Northern Ireland opened in the last 30 years remain unsolved.

Jane Kennedy: Four hundred and eighty-six murders remain unsolved from 1987 to 2003. Statistics were not held on computer prior to 1987 and the information requested from 1973 to 1986 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Police (Lisburn)

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers are attached to the Lisburn District Command Unit; and what plans there are to increase this number.

Jane Kennedy: On 1 April 2003 the complement of police officers in Lisburn District Command Unit was as follows:
	
		
			 Police Officers Number 
		
		
			 Regular Officers 217 
			 Full-time Reserve Officers 89 
			 Part-time Reserve Officers 58 
		
	
	The Police Service in consultation with the Policing Board has produced a human resource planning strategy to ensure that there is sufficient support for operational policing. There will also be a redeployment of police officers from many Headquarters roles which should see an increase of officers in District Command Units over the next three years.

Weapons Finds

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many finds of arms and bomb making material there have been in (a) Belfast and (b) Northern Ireland in each year since 1996.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is included in the following table:
	
		Number of firearms, ammunition and explosives recovered: 1 January 1996 to 28 February 2003
		
			  Belfast area Northern Ireland 
			 Year Firearms Ammunition Explosives (Kgs) Firearms Ammunition Explosives (Kgs) 
		
		
			 1996 25 1,318 452.23 97 10,701 1,677.03 
			 1997 36 4,001 87.46 105 8,804 1,257.70 
			 1998 21 3,314 209.56 88 12,189 883.35 
			 1999 38 5,862 2.35 113 16,472 89.26 
			 2000 42 6,064 31.59 134 10,722 311.21 
			 2001 34 3,500 15.40 97 10,986 119.58 
			 2002 38 6,688 2.10 125 13,600 8.21 
			 2003(3) 8 120 2.33 24 1,571 12.82 
			 Total 242 30,867 803.02 783 85,045 4,359.16 
		
	
	(3) 28 February
	Note:
	1. The following types of incidents are included:
	Weapons, ammunition and explosives recovered as a result of a person/rummage search (e.g. house/vehicle searches).
	Ammunition recovered as a result of intimidation incidents (e.g. bullets received in mail).
	Weapons, ammunition and explosives found by members of the public.
	Other violent incidents where weapons/ammunition have been used and recovered (e.g. armed robberies).
	Paramilitary style attacks involving shootings where weapons/ammunition have been recovered.
	2. Explosives recovered figures have been supplied by the army and exclude those seized as a result of ATO defusing devices.
	3. Belfast area includes those PSNI stations covered by Belfast east, Belfast west, Belfast north and Belfast south DCUs.
	2002 and 2003 statistics are provisional and are subject to minor amendment.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Costs

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) the total budget and (b) the cost of administration were in the latest year for which figures are available for (i) her Department and (ii) each of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department.

Tessa Jowell: As published in the Department's resource accounts 2001–02, the total budget and administration costs of the Department were £33,032,000 and £31,584,000 respectively.
	The total budgets of the non-departmental bodies sponsored by the Department are listed in Note 7, Section M, to the resource accounts 2001–02 under the estimate column. Copies of the Department's resource accounts may be obtained from the Library of the House.
	Information on administration costs of each of the non-departmental bodies is not held centrally and can be obtained from the bodies' annual reports and accounts for 2001–02, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the running costs in 2002 were of (a) her Ministers' private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff, and (b) her Department.

Kim Howells: The running costs information relating to the Ministers' private offices and the Department for 2001–02 is shown in the table. Figures for the running costs for 2002–03 will be published later in the year in the departmental resource accounts 2002–03.
	
		
			 FY 2001–02 (£millions) 
		
		
			 DCMS running costs 31.584 
			 Ministers' private offices running costs 1.667 
			 Ministers' private offices staff costs 1.263

Departmental Staff

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff were employed by (a) her Department and (b) each of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department in each of the last five years.

Kim Howells: The information for DCMS is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Staff 
		
		
			 2003 475 
			 2002 468 
			 2001 405 
			 2000 400 
			 1999 372 
		
	
	The Department does not maintain a central record of staff within each of the non-departmental bodies sponsored by us. This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are in place to ensure that British broadcasters do not violate the Geneva Convention in their coverage of the war in Iraq.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 1 April 2003
	The ITC establish high standards in relation to privacy and human dignity by placing, in their programme code, certain requirements on UK broadcasters. These include guidance on respect for human dignity and treatment of minorities. Broadcasters must adhere to these rules and respect them as regards prisoners of war. Equally these rules apply to the treatment of footage of dead soldiers and civilians. I expect that current ITC regulations will prevent the violation of the Geneva Convention occurring in material broadcast from a UK licensed service.
	BBC producers' guidelines also recognise the principles of the Geneva Convention. The BBC believes that its editorial policies are fully consistent with the principles of the Geneva Convention. Their editorial policies (which are in the public domain) include guidelines on the coverage of casualties, death and injury and prisoners of war.

Iraq

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will investigate whether there has been a violation of the Geneva Convention by the BBC following their televising of film of United States soldiers held by Iraq as prisoners of war; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 1 April 2003
	The BBC producers' guidelines recognise the principles of the Geneva Convention; individual editorial decisions on content are ultimately matters for the BBC Board of Governors.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff are employed by her Department.

Kim Howells: The Department currently employs 475 staff.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academic Achievement

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on academic achievement at (a) Key Stage 3, (b) GCSE and (c) A-level for pupils from pupil referral units in each academic year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The tables refer to the Key Stage 3 and GCSE achievements of pupils solely registered at Pupil Referral Units at the time of the tests and examinations. These pupils are not obliged to take Key Stage 3 tests nor GCSE examinations.
	Information on the GCE A level achievement of pupils in PRUs is not readily available. Very few students in the PRUs take A-levels and for some years there are no students at all.
	
		(a) Key Stage 3 Test for pupils in Pupil Referral Units in England 1997–2002
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Percentage of pupils achieving level 5 or above — — — — — — 
			 English 7 9 3 4 5 7 
			 Mathematics 14 11 7 10 13 16 
			 Science 10 7 3 6 10 11 
			 Number of eligible pupils — — — — — — 
			 English 301 381 742 581 730 741 
			 Mathematics 331 419 811 627 781 784 
			 Science 324 406 779 599 751 778 
		
	
	
		(b) GCSE/GNVQ achievements of 15 year old pupils in Pupil Referral Units in England 1997–2002
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Percentage achieving — — — — — — 
			 5 or more grades A*—C 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.6 1.1 1.5 
			 1 or more grades A*—G 36.2 45.2 43.2 63.1 62.7 63.0 
			 Number of 15 year old pupils 3,853 3,835 4,139 3,004 3,081 2,960

Academic Achievement

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 24 February, ref 96714, what assessment he has made of the impact of narrow in-school variation on value-added standards of achievement at Key Stage 3 and GCSE.

David Miliband: The variation within schools in pupils' Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 attainment is only slightly associated statistically with the progress they make during Key Stage 3 (as indicated by the 2002 Performance Tables school-level Key Stage 2–3 Value Added measure). In general, the smaller the variation in Key Stage 2 or Key Stage 3 performance between pupils within their schools, the marginally greater the level of aggregate relative progress recorded by the value added measure. These features are also evident in the progress made during Key Stage 4.

Autism

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) autism units attached to maintained schools, (b) generic special schools and (c) autism specialist schools there were in Kent in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for Education and Skills does not currently hold this information centrally. The total number of special schools in Kent in each of the years 1998 to 2002 is shown in the following table:
	
		Special schools
		
			  Maintained Non-maintained Total 
		
		
			 1998 34 4 38 
			 1999 31 4 35 
			 2000 30 4 34 
			 2001 29 4 33 
			 2002 29 4 33 
		
	
	Kent local education authority has informed the DfES that there are seven specifically designated resourced mainstream maintained provisions for children and pupils on the autistic spectrum in Kent, in addition 119 Kent maintained mainstream schools meet the needs of pupils with statements of special educational need where the primary need type is identified as autism and the need is described as very severe and complex. Many other Kent maintained mainstream schools meet the needs of pupils on the autistic spectrum, some with statements of special educational needs and others without.
	There is no DfES definition of a generic special school. However the Kent authority has told us that there is one Kent special school which meets the needs of pupils with both moderate learning difficulties and specific learning difficulties, which may be one definition of "generic". There will be many other Kent special schools which cater for children with a range of special needs.
	None of the Kent maintained special schools is specifically designated for children with autism. However there are 16 that will meet the needs of pupils who are on the autistic spectrum and there are other special schools which will take pupils who have needs associated with autism.
	There are also a number of independent and non-maintained schools in Kent that make provision for pupils with primary autistic needs.

Classroom Sizes

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what average classroom sizes were in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north east and (d) England in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(4): average size of one teacher classes(5) -- Position in January each year.
		
			  Jarrow South Tyneside North East England 
			  Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 1997 26.4 22.7 27.0 22.7 27.2 22.0 27.5 21.7 
			 1998 26.2 22.0 26.9 22.5 27.3 22.2 27.7 21.7 
			 1999 25.9 22.4 26.2 22.8 26.7 22.3 27.5 21.9 
			 2000 25.4 22.1 25.8 22.7 26.2 22.1 27.1 22.0 
			 2001 25.5 21.7 25.8 22.4 25.8 22.1 26.7 22.0 
			 2002 24.8 21.8 25.2 22.0 25.3 21.8 26.3 21.9 
		
	
	(4) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(5) Classes as taught during the one selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Graduate Tax

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  when he will publish details of the principal alternative models of university and student funding which his Department has considered;
	(2)  if he will publish details of the principal variations on a graduate tax which his Department has considered;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of the financial implications for (a) the Exchequer, (b) students and (c) universities of the principal variants on a graduate tax which his Department has considered;
	(4)  what assessment has been made of the financial implications for (a) students, (b) universities and (c) Exchequer of the principal alternatives for a flat, non-differential tuition fee structure which his Department has considered.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 31 March 2003
	I will write to the hon. Member shortly and will place a copy of the letter in the House of Commons Library.

Materials Science

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will introduce an AS/A level course in materials science.

David Miliband: There are currently no plans to introduce an AS/A level course in materials science.

Parenting Orders

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parenting orders have been sought by and granted to schools in the Buckingham constituency since July 2001.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, Buckinghamshire local education authority advises that local magistrates have granted parenting orders in nine of the cases it has brought to prosecution since July 2001.

Pupil Exclusions

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many decisions taken by schools in the Buckingham constituency permanently to exclude pupils were reversed by independent appeal panels in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02.

David Miliband: Information on exclusion appeals is collected at local education authority (LEA) level. The available information for Buckinghamshire LEA is shown in the table. Figures for the academic year 2001–02 will be available in May 2002.
	
		Summary of school exclusion appeals in academic years 1999–2000 and 2000–01: Buckinghamshire LEA
		
			  Exclusions appeals by parents 
			  Lodged Heard Decided in Parents'Favour 
			  Number Number Percentage(6) Number Percentage(7) 
		
		
			  Primary, Secondary and Special Schools 
			 1999–2000 10 8 80.0 4 50.0 
			 2000–01 16 13 81.3 6 46.2 
		
	
	(6) Shown as a percentage of appeals lodged.
	(7) Shown as a percentage of appeals heard.
	Source:
	School Exclusion Appeals Survey

Pupil Setting

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the guidelines are to local education authorities with regard to the in-school setting of pupils by ability at secondary level;
	(2)  what proportion of state secondary schools he estimates set pupils by ability at Year 7;
	(3)  for which (a) subjects and (b) year groups it is (i) mandatory and (ii) optional to set classes of pupils by ability at secondary school level.

David Miliband: Setting by pupil ability is not mandatory in any subject in secondary schools. We have not issued general guidelines to local education authorities over approaches to in-school setting of pupils, although we have encouraged setting as part of a range of measures which schools can adopt to meet the learning needs of their more able pupils.
	We do not collect data on setting in secondary schools. Within about 87 per cent. of the secondary schools inspected by Ofsted during 2001/02 at least one setted/banded lesson was inspected.
	Ofsted also found that the level of setting increases throughout Key Stage 3, from 26 per cent. of lessons inspected in Year 7, to 38 per cent. in Year 8, rising to 44 per cent. in Year 9, with setting much more common in subjects such as mathematics, science, modern foreign languages and English.

SATs

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what change there has been in SAT results of primary schools students over the last five years.

David Miliband: The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies have brought about significant improvements in primary school test results over the last five years. The tables below show the percentage of seven and 11 year olds achieving the expected level in the Key Stage 1 and 2 tests.
	
		Key Stage 1 test results (percentage of children achieving level 2 or above)
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002(8)  
		
		
			 English(9) — — — — — 
			 Reading 80 82 83 84 84 
			 Writing 81 83 84 86 86 
			 Spelling 66 71 72 75 78 
			 Mathematics 84 87 90 91 90 
		
	
	(8) Provisional
	(9) There is no overall English result at Key Stage 1.
	
		Key Stage 2 test results (percentage of children achieving level 4 and above)
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002(10)  
		
		
			 English 65 71 75 75 75 
			 Mathematics 59 69 72 71 73 
			 Science 69 78 85 87 86 
		
	
	(10) Provisional

SATs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of school pupils achieved level 4 at Key Stage 2 in (a) English and (b) maths in (i) England and (ii) schools in the Buckingham constituency in 2002.

David Miliband: The percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 or above in the 2002 Key Stage 2 tests in (i) England and (ii) schools in the Buckingham constituency:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 English  
			 Buckingham 83 
			 England 75 
			   
			 Mathematics  
			 Buckingham 80 
			 England 73

School Absences

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many unauthorised absences there were in each school in each year since 1998, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 24 March 2003
	I will write to the hon. Member with the information when it is available, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library.

School Exclusions

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will reverse the policy on exclusion in secondary schools.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 31 March 2003
	As a result of the SEN and Disability Act 2001, children who have statements of special educational needs (SEN), have a stronger right to mainstream education where this is what their parents want, and where it is compatible with the efficient education of other children. The Act also amended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to provide protection from discrimination for disabled pupils and prospective pupils, and introduced duties on LEAs and schools to plan strategically to increase access to schools for disabled pupils.
	There are strong educational, as well as social and moral, grounds for educating children with SEN or disabilities with their peers, and we believe that with the right strategies and support, the vast majority of children with special educational needs or disabilities can be included in a mainstream school. An increasing number of schools are showing that an inclusive approach can reinforce a commitment to higher standards of achievement for all children. This approach applies equally to early years settings, primary, and secondary schools. However, we also see a continuing and vital role for special schools, and are currently consulting on the proposals of the Special Schools Working Group, who have made recommendations on how special schools could work with mainstream schools to further develop their role within the Government's inclusion framework.

Special Educational Needs

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children per 1,000 are issued with a statement of special needs in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Ivan Lewis: As at January 2002 there were 420 children attending schools in Haltemprice and Howden with statements of SEN. This equates to 26.7 pupils in every 1,000.
	For East Riding of Yorkshire there were 1,264 pupils attending schools with statements of SEN which equates to 23.9 pupils in every 1,000.
	This data is derived from Annual Schools' Census returns made by schools to the Department in January each year.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the gender ratio is of pupils (a) receiving special education and (b) statemented in mainstream schools, on account of emotional and behavioural difficulties; and if he will make a statement on (i) provision of places and (ii) appropriateness of educational experience among teachers in the light of that ratio.

Ivan Lewis: The available information is shown in the table.
	There is currently no requirement for schools to submit information in the Annual Schools' Census on the nature of such pupils' disability or learning difficulty. However, in June 2001, the Department carried out a pilot study involving a sample of 200 mainstream and special schools to assess whether it would be possible to collect data from schools on a broad range of types of Special Educational Needs (SEN). From January 2004 the Department is planning to ask schools and Local Education Authorities to provide this information.
	Local Education Authorities and schools have statutory responsibilities under the Education Act 1996 to identify, assess and make appropriate provision for children with special educational needs, including those with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Guidance on carrying out those responsibilities is given in the Speicial Educational Needs Code of Practice.
	Local Education Authorities have a duty to secure sufficient schools for pupils in their area and in doing so much have particular regard to the need to secure special educational provision. It is up to Local Education Authorities to determine the pattern of provision in the light of local needs and circumstances.
	
		Maintained Primary Secondary and Special Schools: -- Number of Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) By Gender (11) January 2002 England
		
			 Maintained Primary(11) 
			 SEN Pupils without statements Pupils with statements 
			 Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 531,647 302,496 834,143 50,337 20,392 70,729 
		
	
	(11) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	
		Maintained Primary Secondary and Special Schools: Number of Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) by Gender(12)January 2002 England
		
			 Maintained Secondary(12) 
			 SEN Pupils without statement Pupils with statements 
			 Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 323,323 195,793 519,116 56,477 22,129 78,606 
		
	
	(12) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	
		Maintained Primary Secondary and Special Schools: Number of Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) by Gender(13)January 2002 England
		
			 Maintained Special(14) 
			 SEN Pupils without statements Pupils with statements 
			 Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 1,677 730 2,407 58,498 27,231 85,729 
		
	
	(13) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(14) Excludes General Hospital Schools
	
		Maintained Primary Secondary and Special Schools: Ratio Boys: Girls with Special Educational Needs January 2002 England
		
			  (15)Maintained Primary (15)Maintained Secondary (16) Maintained Special 
			  SEN Pupilswithout statements Pupils with statements SEN Pupilswithout statements Pupils with statements SEN Pupilswithout statements Pupils with statements 
		
		
			 Ratio boys: girls 1.8:1 2.5:1 1.7:1 2.6:1 2.3:1 2.1:1 
		
	
	(15) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(16) Excludes General Hospital Schools.

Special Educational Needs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many special needs status (a) primary and (b) secondary school children there were (i) in England and (ii) in the Buckingham constituency in 2002.

David Miliband: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools: Number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN): January 2002
		
			  Number of pupils with a statement of SEN Percentage of pupils with a statement of SEN(18) Number of pupils with SEN without a statement Percentage of pupils with SEN without a statement(18) 
		
		
			 Primary schools(17)
			 Buckingham constituency 96 1.3 969 13.1 
			 England 70,729 1.6 834,143 19.1 
			 Secondary schools(17)
			 Buckingham constituency 77 1.8 517 12.1 
			 England 78,606 2.4 519,116 15.9 
		
	
	(17) Includes middle schools as deemed
	(18) The number of pupils with and without statements expressed as a proportion of the number of pupils on roll.

Specialist Schools

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of secondary schools has received specialist status.

David Miliband: 1,197 secondary schools have been awarded specialist status as part of the Specialist Schools Programme. This represents 38 per cent. of the secondary schools in England.

Teachers

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in Kent in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Vacancy numbers in the maintained schools sector in England by local authority are shown in table 40 of the 2002 edition of Statistics of Education: School Workforce in England. A copy of this volume has been placed in the Library. The table is also available on the statistics section of the DfES website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics/DB/VOL/v0380/456-t40.htm.

Teachers

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many teachers there were in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the average pay for a teacher was in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The table provides the full-time equivalent number of teachers in service in the maintained sector, as at January, of each year shown.
	
		Table 1
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002(19) 
		
		
			 Jarrow constituency(20) 700 690 700 710 740 760 
			 South Tyneside(21) 1,370 1,350 1,380 1,310 1,440 1,460 
			 North East(21) 22,200 21,950 22,020 22,010 22,540 22,910 
			 England(21) 399,170 397,650 401,150 404,630 410,170 419,620 
		
	
	(19) 2002 is the most recent information available.
	(20) Source: Annual Schools' Census (ASC). Includes regular teachers normally employed within schools.
	(21) Source: Annual Survey of Teachers in Service (618G). This is the Department's standard source of teacher information but it does not provide constituency level data. Includes all regular teachers employed including: centrally employed teachers; teachers on paid leave, plus teachers employed to replace them (if employed for a month or more). In 2002, teacher numbers on 618G were 2 to 3 per cent. higher than on ASC.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	
		Table 2 provides the average salary of full-time(22) regular qualified teachers in the maintained schools sector, as at March of each year shown. Average salaries are not available at constituency level. -- Table 2£
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(23) 
		
		
			 South Tyneside 22,460 23,110 24,150 25,180 27,140 
			 North East 22,460 23,060 23,970 24,960 26,850 
			 England 22,900 23,540 24,440 25,380 27,200 
		
	
	(22) 2001 is the most recent information available.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	1 Source:Database of Teacher Records. Figures cover all grades and include any allowances paid. The 2001 salary figures include those threshold pay increases that were made before March 2001. However, they do not include threshold pay increases relating to people who passed the threshold in September 2000 and had not received their payment by March 2001. This money was backdated after March 2001 and therefore the average salary for March 2001 will be understated.

Teachers

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) teachers and (b) non-teaching assistants were employed in schools in Leeds in each year since 1996.

David Miliband: holding answer 1 April 2003
	The numbers of teachers and teaching assistants employed in maintained schools in Leeds local education authority are shown in the following table.
	
		Maintained schools: full-time equivalent number of teaching staff(23) and teaching assistants(24)1996–2002—position in January each year—Leeds local education authority
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Teaching staff   
			 Nursery(25) 3.0 3.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Primary(26) 2,816.7 2,817.7 2,773.6 2,767.5 2,772.0 2,795.1 2,867.6 
			 Secondary(26) 2,715.0 2,664.5 2,712.9 2,744.0 2,768.4 2,858.0 2,979.3 
			 Special(27) 199.8 196.1 192.7 169.1 172.6 168.5 170.6 
			 Pupil Referral Units 24.0 24.9 31.9 49.0 25.1 22.5 24.6 
			 FTE total teaching staff 5,758.4 5,706.3 5,714.1 5,729.5 5,738.0 5,844.2 6,042.2 
			 
			 Teaching assistants   
			 Nursery(25) 1.0 1.7 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Primary(26) 1,091.9 1,131.5 1,200.2 1,194.6 1,239.2 1,318.7 1,731.1 
			 Secondary(26) 242.6 282.1 302.8 327.0 389.3 462.1 462.0 
			 Special(27) 137.3 148.9 158.7 149.0 148.3 160.9 188.7 
			 Pupil Referral Units 1.8 3.7 17.1 0.9 13.4 13.1 8.0 
			 FTE total teaching assistants 1,474.6 1,568.0 1,679.8 1,671.4 1,790.2 1,954.9 2,389.8 
		
	
	(23) Includes all qualified and other teaching staff.
	(24) Includes nursery assistants, special needs support staff, minority ethnic pupil support staff and non-teaching assistants.
	(25) On 31 August 1998, the one maintained nursery school in Leeds local education authority closed.
	(26) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(27) Includes Maintained and Non-Maintained Special Schools.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Truancy (Anti-war Demonstrations)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the level of truancy due to anti-war demonstrations.

Ivan Lewis: It is for schools and Local Education Authorities to consider how best to prevent or deal with unauthorised absences which occur.
	Absence from school for whatever reason during a school session constitutes unauthorised absence.
	Where pupils are out of school without permission from the school the absence should be recorded as unauthorised. Information on total authorised and unauthorised absence is collected annually from schools but is not broken down by reasons for absence.

Vocational Qualifications

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what target has been set for the total number of 14 to 16-year-olds studying for a vocational qualification.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 27 March 2003
	The Government's 2001 manifesto was "to enable every pupil to realise their talent with a radical extension of vocational courses to as many as 200,000 14 and 15-year-olds".

SCOTLAND

Boundary Commission

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Boundary Commission for Scotland is able to present reports independently of other Boundary Commissions.

Helen Liddell: The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (as amended) provides that the Boundary Commission for Scotland submit its reports to me. There is no requirement for the Commission to present its report with that of any other Commission.

Community Pharmacies

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive on whether the recommendations of the Office of Fair Trading on control entry requirements for community pharmacies can be introduced within one country of the UK but not another.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office has kept closely in touch with the Scottish Executive on this issue. In terms of the devolution settlement, the Executive are free to take their own decisions on devolved matters. The Government and the Executive will continue to work together when dealing with responses to reports by the Office of Fair Trading, including their recent examination of the private dentistry market.

Laptop Computers

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many laptop computers were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in her Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	Since that date, the numbers of laptops used are as follows:
	
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Ministers 2 2 1 1 
			 Special Advisers 2 2 2 2 
			 Officials 3 11 13 16 
		
	
	One laptop computer was stolen from the department in 1999–2000. It had an approximate value of £2,200 at the time of purchase.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the (a) UN and (b) Afghan Transitional Authority to register the Afghan population for future democratic elections.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 2 April 2003
	The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) has been working closely with the Transitional Administration to develop a comprehensive programme of voter registration, on a country-wide and on a non-partisan basis, in anticipation of elections in 2004. UNAMA hopes to begin registration in August 2003, with a particular focus initially on rural areas where winter access would be more difficult.

Afghanistan

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 5 March 2003, Official Report, column 1066W, on Afghanistan, whether the programme of demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of former combatants in Afghanistan has begun.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 2 April 2003
	The programme of demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of former combatants in Afghanistan has not yet begun. Details of the programme remain under discussion in Kabul.

Arbitrary Detentions

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with Mr. Atkinson's lawyers since the publication of the UN working group on arbitrary detentions' opinion 16/2002.

Mike O'Brien: The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted opinion 16/2002 on 29 November 2002. Neither Mr. Atkinson's UK lawyers nor any other lawyers acting on his behalf have contacted either the embassy or the FCO since November 2002.

Arbitrary Detentions

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 10 March 2003, Official Report, column 33W, what steps he is taking to secure the information necessary to determine if Mr. Atkinson's continued detention is of an arbitrary nature.

Mike O'Brien: The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Mr. Atkinson's continued detention stems from the application of Dubai law. Mr. Atkinson, his family and his lawyers have repeatedly been informed that the question of the interpretation of local law can only be addressed by his solicitors through local lawyers. Our embassy in Dubai offered Mr. Atkinson's lawyers a list of local lawyers in May last year.

Arbitrary Detentions

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 5 March 2003, Official Report, column 1069W, when the Consul-General was informed of Mr. Atkinson's injury; and if he will make a statement about the circumstances of the riot in which Mr. Atkinson sustained the injury.

Mike O'Brien: Our consular staff visited Jumeirah Central Prison in Dubai on 12 August 2002, immediately upon learning of disturbances at the prison. During the visit, Mr. Atkinson told our consular staff that some prisoners, including himself, had been beaten during the disturbances at the prison on 30 July 2002, when, we understand, police were called to quell fighting among local prisoners.

Calmative Weapons

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the research and development of calmative weapons for deployment by US forces in the Gulf.

Mike O'Brien: None.

Central African Republic

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the political situation in the Central African Republic.

Bill Rammell: We are deeply concerned about the overthrow on 15 March of the democratically elected government of the Central African Republic. As the first successful coup d'etat in Africa in over three years, it is a serious retrograde step. We condemn it unequivocally, as we condemn any unconstitutional seizure of power. We support the European Union declaration of 21 March that urges the resumption of political dialogue and early progress towards the restoration of the democratic process. We call on all parties in the region to support these aims and to respect the territorial integrity of the country.

Colin Powell

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Mr. Colin Powell.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is in frequent telephone contact with Colin Powell. They last met for bilateral discussions in Washington on 23 January 2003, and again on 26 and 27 March 2003, during which a number of foreign policy issues were discussed. They have also had discussions in the margins of the UN Security Council.

CS Gas

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his Answer of 13 February 2003, Official Report, column 1070, to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson), whether he has been notified that US forces plan to deploy CS gas to the Gulf.

Mike O'Brien: No.

CS Gas

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United States administration in respect of the research, development and deployment of CS gas and pepper spray for US forces in the Gulf.

Mike O'Brien: None.

CS Gas

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United States Administration in respect of deployment of (a) CS gas and (b) pepper spray to armed forces in the Gulf.

Mike O'Brien: None.

Departmental Website

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost of his Department's website was in the last 12 months; and how many hits it received in the same period.

Denis MacShane: For the past two years the FCO has been implementing a major Internet infrastructure project to enhance its global web presence. This includes a new FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk), a new UKVisas website (www.ukvisas.gov.uk), separate websites for all British missions worldwide, and a new portal site about the UK (www.i-uk.com). The latter joins up the online work of our key public diplomacy partners:
	British Council, British Tourist Authority, InvestUK and Trade Partners UK.
	The total cost of the project is £10 million funded by the Treasury's Capital Modernisation Fund. It is not possible to separate out the cost of the FCO site alone.
	The number of page impressions for the FCO site over the past year is 26.4 million, although during the last fortnight page impressions have peaked at 700,000 per day.

Diplomatic Representation (Africa)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his written statement of 31 March 2003, Official Report, column 43WS, on Diplomatic Representation (Africa), if he will set out the (a) qualitative and (b) diplomatic difference in status between the embassy in Bamako he intends to close and the office he intends to retain there; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: At present the United Kingdom has a resident Ambassador in Mali. From the early summer, the accredited Ambassador to Mali will be based in another regional capital. We plan to retain locally-engaged staff in Bamako, but the exact nature of the office there is still under consideration. We intend to use the presence of our staff in Bamako, and visits by the Ambassador and other British officials, to maintain our valuable bilateral relationship with Mali. My noble Friend the Baroness Amos will visit Bamako in April 2003 for bilateral discussions. This visit is a clear signal of our continuing commitment to Mali.

Eritrea

Mr. Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Eritrea.

Bill Rammell: The bilateral relationship with Eritrea is good. We opened an Embassy in Asmara in March 2002. We have played an active role in pushing forward the Ethiopia/Eritrea peace process during the last few years. My noble Friend the Baroness Amos met the Eritrean Ambassador most recently on 19 March to discuss progress on the peace process and to raise concerns about the constitutional problems in Eritrea. We do have concerns about the human rights situation there which we raise regularly with the Eritrean government. We are also concerned at the humanitarian situation and have contributed £2 million for relief purposes since January 2003.

Extractive Industries

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many reports he has received of breaches of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Voluntary Charter for Extractive Industries since December 2000.

Denis MacShane: The UK and US Governments jointly launched the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights in 2000, with the participation of several UK and US energy and mining companies and NGOs. The Principles provide practical guidance to companies seeking to ensure that respect for human rights is central to the arrangements they make for protecting the security of their operations in areas of conflict.
	Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and expertise with each other as part of a learning process. We also discuss the Principles with the companies and NGOs concerned when particular human rights issues arise. It is through this dialogue that the process is carried forward, not on the basis of complaints or reports of specific breaches of principles.

Horn of Africa

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the leaders of the states in the Horn of Africa on (a) violent crime and (b) small arms proliferation.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had meetings in February in London with the Foreign Ministers of Kenya and Ethiopia. He discussed with them our concerns about terrorism and the general level of violence in the Horn of Africa.
	Small arms proliferation is also a significant problem in the region. The UK is active and works extensively in Africa with Governments, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and NGOs on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) issues. We have committed significant resources from our Global Conflict Prevention Pool for SALW to assist the secretariat that supports the 2000 Nairobi Declaration. We also support the Experts Panel established by UNSCR 1425 (2002) to monitor the arms embargo on Somalia.

India

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make representations to the Government of India regarding access to Punjab by international human rights groups;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Government of India on the date by which it will ratify the United Nations' Convention Against Torture;
	(3)  if he will make representations to the Government of India regarding access to Punjab by the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Mike O'Brien: I discussed India's position regarding the Convention Against Torture (CAT) with Mr. I. D. Swami, the Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs, on 17 October 2002 during my visit to India. We understand that India is planning to start the process of ratifying CAT, although a bill has not yet been brought before the Indian Parliament. We continue to encourage India to ratify CAT.
	We have made and will continue to make official level representations to the Government of India for greater general access to India of UN Special Rapporteurs and international human rights NGOs. Save in exceptional circumstances, our general policy is not to make state-specific representations. We have in the past carried out project work under the Human Rights Project Fund in co-operation with the Punjabi State Police.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will announce the name of the next British High Commissioner for India.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 3 December 2002, Official Report, column 644W.

Kenya

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Kenyan authorities regarding small arms proliferation in the northern pastoral regions of Kenya that border Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Bill Rammell: There have been no recent ministerial discussions with the Kenyan authorities on small arms proliferation, but we have supported their efforts to tackle the problem, both regionally and nationally. Following the signing of the Nairobi Declaration on Small Arms in March 2000, the UK committed significant resources to support the Nairobi Declaration Secretariat. We have also provided the Kenyan police with equipment to help destroy weapons. On 15 March there was a public destruction of 1,000 illegally held weapons.

Middle East

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has received from (a) Syria and (b) Iran on the firing of coalition missiles into (i) a bus carrying Syrian nationals from Iraq to Syria on 23 March and (ii) Iranian territory.

Mike O'Brien: Our embassies in Damascus and Tehran have been in contact with the Syrian and Iranian Governments about these incidents. Under no circumstances would the Coalition deliberately target a civilian bus. This is a tragic accident, for which the US have already issued an apology. The Coalition is taking the utmost care to minimise civilian casualties. There are strong indications that the munitions that landed in Iranian territory were in fact Iraqi but the matter is still being examined.

Rwanda

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the political situation in Rwanda.

Bill Rammell: My noble Friend the Baroness Amos visited Rwanda on 29–30 January 2003 and held extensive discussions with key Rwandan Government figures on a wide range of issues, including the situation in the Great Lakes, the election process, human rights and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

Western Sahara

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in implementing UN mandates on Western Sahara.

Mike O'Brien: United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1429 of 30 July 2002 extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for a Referendum on Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 January 2003. Among other things, this invited James Baker, the UN Secretary-General's (UNSG) Personal Envoy, to pursue his efforts to find a political solution to the dispute, taking into account the concerns expressed by the parties, and expressed the readiness of the Security Council to consider any approach that provides for self determination for the people of Western Sahara.
	MINURSO's mandate has since been extended twice: by UNSCR 1463 to allow the parties time to consider the latest proposal presented to them by the UNSG's Personal Envoy; and most recently by UNSCR 1469 to allow consideration of the responses of the parties to the proposal.

Western Sahara

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of (a) Morocco and (b) the Polisario to discuss the future of the Western Sahara.

Mike O'Brien: I met Mohammed Benaissa, Moroccan Foreign Minister in November 2002 and Lehbib Breica, the Frente Polisario representative to the UK and Ireland in December 2002.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what unilateral sanctions are in force by the United Kingdom against Zimbabwe that match (a) the recent Executive Order signed by the President of the United States under the title of 'Blocking Property of Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Zimbabwe' and (b) EU sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Jack Straw: President Bush's Executive Order of 7 March 2003 provides for an assets freeze, and so brings the United States measures against the ZANU-PF regime into line with those of the EU, which we implemented on 18 February 2002, and which were extended for another 12 months on 18 February 2003.
	The United Kingdom, as a member state of the European Union, does not need unilateral measures to replicate those of the EU, which it supports and implements.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will recommend at the next Geneva Affairs Council meeting that Mr. Ari Ben-Menashe be added to the list of names on the EU sanctions list against the Zimbabwe regime and its supporters.

Jack Straw: The EU's common position on Zimbabwe targets individuals
	"who are engaged in activities that seriously undermine democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe".
	Only Zimbabweans have so far been subjected to the measures, but the list of names is kept under regular review.
	Mr. Ben-Menashe, a Canadian national, is the state's main witness in the on-going treason trial of MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. The EU said on 20 February 2003,
	"The European Union is following closely the legal procedures in the trial of the head of the main opposition party, Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai, being fully aware of the relevance and the importance of the outcome for the future of democratic pluralism in this country".

WORK AND PENSIONS

Asbestosis

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have died in England and Wales during the last three years from asbestosis; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The number of deaths in England and Wales for the latest three years for which data are available, where the underlying cause of death on the death certificate was given as asbestosis, was 52 in 1998, 57 in 1999 and 63 in 2000.

Iron Mains Replacement (Transco)

David Heyes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Transco completed the replacement of all medium pressure ductile iron mains within 30 metres of buildings by 31 December 2002 as required by the HSE's Improvement Notice issued in September 2000.

Nick Brown: Transco completed their planned replacement programme by 31 December 2002. This excluded 11.382 km, which were discovered too late to be replaced within this deadline. Transco originally anticipated replacing approximately 2,360 km of mains. However, they eventually replaced 2897.842 km within this timescale, an overrun of 537.842 km or 22.75 per cent. Transco were given an Extension to the Improvement Notice to 30 April 2003 to remove the remaining 11.382 km. I am advised that there are sound engineering reasons why this cannot be done any earlier, including safety considerations.

Basic State Pension

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters he has received on the recent document sent to pensioners on the percentage change in the basic pensions; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: This is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, Chief Executive of The Pension Service. She will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Paul Flynn, dated 3 April 2003
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many letters he has received on the recent document sent to pensioners on the percentage change in the basic pension; and if he will make a statement.
	At the annual uprating exercise pensioners are issued with a number of forms:
	People who are paid direct to their bank/building society account received:
	BR2189 flyer leaflet, which provides the uprated standard weekly rates of benefit;
	form BR2199, which is the formal notification of the customers' own uprated pension;
	leaflet BR2215, which gives general benefit guidance, including a complaints procedure; and
	a stop press leaflet, which aims to answer all the main questions that the customer may have regarding uprating.
	People who use order books received:
	a UP25 flyer. This is issued with all order books issued between December and May, even if the order book expires before the annual uprating. This provides the details of the new uprated standard weekly rates of benefit.
	All uprating notifications have now been issued. I have received three letters from MPs about this issue and the Ministerial Correspondence Team has received one letter.
	I hope that this is helpful.

Benefit Administration (Funding)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the means by which the administration of (a) housing and (b) council tax benefit by local authorities is funded;
	(2)  what the cost to (a) his Department and its predecessor and (b) local authorities of administering (i) housing and (ii) council tax benefit was in the last four years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Half of the administration subsidy for both housing benefit and council tax benefit is funded through a grant from the Department for Work and Pensions. This is allocated to individual local authorities using a formula agreed in consultation with the local authority associations. The formula takes account of the size of the caseload and the complexity of housing benefit cases, with elements for accommodation and staffing costs. The remaining half is funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Executive through the Revenue Support Grant (Grant Aided Expenditure in Scotland) within their local government finance settlements.
	From 2003–04 administration subsidy will be paid entirely by this Department as one direct grant to local authorities. During 2003–04 we will also distribute an additional £33 million for ongoing and transitional costs associated with the introduction of the Pension Credit as well as £11 million for ongoing costs associated with new tax credits.
	The Department also helps fund the administration of the Verification Framework and payments are made through the Help Fund to support various local authority led initiatives aimed at improving housing benefit administration where lack of funds is a barrier. A further £223 million Verification Framework funding is being made available for the three years from April 2003. This will provide a 50 per cent. increase in both set-up and ongoing funding. We are also investing £200 million over the next three years in helping authorities meet the new Performance Standards.
	Actual expenditure on the administration of these benefits, as reported by local authorities, exceeds the total subsidy provided by central Government. Local authorities account for their expenditure in very different ways. For example, some will include a portion of central charges for administrative costs that will have little to do with housing benefit administration in their housing benefit costs, some will provide a cost net of additional grants from the Department. Because the data reported by authorities do not reflect a uniform accounting standard across authorities, reported expenditure across all authorities may not be directly comparable with the grants paid figures.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		DWP Administration Subsidy and Caseload -- £ million
		
			  HB administration Average HB caseload CTB administration Average CTB caseload  
		
		
			 1998–1999 97.9 4,414,000 61.2 5,257,000 
			 1999–2000 87.6 4,198,000 72.0 5,022,000 
			 2000–2001 86.8 3,952,000 74.2 4,731,000 
			 2001–2002 89.7 3,844,000 76.3 4,636,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Caseload data refer to households claiming housing benefit which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share.
	2. Caseload figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
	3. Council tax benefit caseload totals exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.
	4. Housing benefit caseload figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	5. The data is the average of caseloads taken in May, August, November and February of each year.
	6. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	Sources:
	Social Security Income Related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment Orders 1999 to 2002. Housing Benefit and council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent caseload stock-count taken in May, August, November and February 1998–99 to 2001–02.
	
		DWP expenditure on anti-fraud initiatives, the Verification Framework and the Help Fund -- £ million
		
			  Challenge funding Benefits agency/local authority joint working payments Security against fraud and error (SAFE) and weekly benefit savings (WBS) Verification framework Help Fund 
		
		
			 1998–99 9.5 — 18.6 5.5 — 
			 1999–2000 5.5 — 15.5 29.1 — 
			 2000–01 2.9 2.7 12.2 24.4 — 
			 2001–02 — 1.4 14.4 38.6 1.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Although not specifically for administration local authorities are given financial incentives for investigating and detecting fraud.
	2. Challenge Funding was a scheme where councils could submit bids for innovative anti-fraud initiatives.
	3. The Security Against Fraud and Error (SAFE) scheme was first introduced in April 2001 and fully replaced the Weekly Benefit Savings (WBS) scheme in April 2002.
	4. SAFE and WBS figures are subject to revision by local authorities.
	5. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £100,000.
	6. Verification Framework (VF) expenditure includes both set-up and ongoing funding.
	7. The Help Fund was introduced from April 2001.
	8. The reduction in SAFE and WBS funding may be attributable to increased VF funding which may have led to a fall in the level of fraud entering the benefit system.
	Sources:
	WBS and SAFE figures are from local authorities' audited final subsidy claims. Challenge Funding and Joint Working Payment figures from 1998–99 to 2000–01 are from DSS/DWP Appropriation Accounts. 2001–02 figures are from DWP records. VF and Help Fund data is from DWP administrative records
	
		Reported administrative costs of local authorities in Great Britain -- £ million
		
			  Housing benefit Council tax benefit Total DWP funding as percentage of reported expenditure 
		
		
			 1997–98 349.7 192.7 542.5 43 
			 1998–99 361.4 192.0 553.3 35 
			 1999–2000 379.6 209.4 588.9 36 
			 2000–01 412.2 229.9 642.1 32 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	2. Figures are subject to revision by local authorities.
	Sources:
	1. English authorities—reports to the ODPM, and its predecessors, using form RO4.
	2. Welsh authorities—reports to the Welsh Assembly using form RO4. Prior to devolution, returns were made to the Welsh Office.
	3. Scottish authorities—reports to the Scottish Executive using Local Financial Return LFR9. Prior to devolution, returns were made to the Scottish Office.

Benefit Uprating

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effect upon claimants' (a) income and (b) entitlement to income related benefits arising from the uprating of benefits by RPI.

Ian McCartney: (a) Uprating of benefits by RPI ensures that claimants' benefit incomes rise at least in line with the rise in cost of living. Some benefits will be uprated by more than prices from April. For example, retirement pension will be uprated by 2.6 per cent., giving a pensioner on full state pension an extra £100 a year, and the minimum income guarantee by earnings (4 per cent.).
	(b) Income-related benefits, excluding the minimum income guarantee, are uprated by the Rossi index, which is the RPI excluding housing costs and local taxes. This is because housing costs and local taxes are met through separate hypothecated benefits, for example housing benefit for rent. The impact of RPI itself on income-related benefits depends on the relative values of the two indices, but since any marginal increases in eligible rents and council taxes are almost always met in full by increased benefits, most claimants will see their benefits rise at least in line with the cost of living.

Benefits Payments

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what circumstances can payment of benefits in cash at post offices can be continued.

Malcolm Wicks: All customers who wish to continue to collect their benefit or pension in cash at the Post Office need to choose one of the account options that can be accessed at post offices.
	DWP is providing customers with information (including letters and leaflets) which clearly sets out the account options as part of the move to payment direct into accounts. This information material sets out the key features of the various accounts and explains how people can access their money at the Post Office, if they wish to do so. Customers can choose the account which best suits their needs and circumstances.

British Sign Language

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2003, Official Report, column 494W, on British Sign Language (BSL), what projects the Government have funded (a) to increase the number of BSL interpreters and (b) to improve the infrastructure for interpreter training and assessment, broken down by region.

Maria Eagle: The former Department for Education and Employment let contracts with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) and the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) to address the shortage of interpreters and to improve the training infrastructure. No information is held with regard to breakdown by region.
	CACDP contract has now come to an end. The RNID contact runs until 2004.
	In the statement he made to the House on BSL on 18 March 2003, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, announced a discrete programme of initiatives to support the statement. We will be consulting organisations of and for deaf people about how the additional funding of £1 million should be allocated.

Council Tax Benefit

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much council tax benefit was paid in 2001–02 in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Council tax benefit helps people with low incomes to pay their council tax whether they are in or out of work.
	The information is in the table.
	
		Council Tax Benefit Expenditure 2001–2002
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 England 2,250 
			 Wales 125 
			 Scotland 315 
			 Total 2,690 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 million.
	2. Figures have been compiled using 2001–2002 pre-audited subsidy claims from individual local authorities.
	3. The figures include estimates for local authorities that have not responded. These estimates are based on historical data. These types of estimates are standard practice in reporting totals where there have been non-respondents.
	4. Figures may be subject to revision by local authorities.
	Source:
	Annual subsidy returns by local authorities to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Deaths at Work

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many deaths at work there were in (a) the UK and (b) Buckinghamshire in 2002.

Nick Brown: The number of deaths at work reported to the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities for 2002 is not yet confirmed. Provisional figures for 2001–02, as well as final figures for 2000–01 are as follows:
	
		Table 1: The number of fatal injuries reported to HSE and local authorities 2000–01 to 2001–02(28)
		
			  2000–01 2001–02(28) 
		
		
			 Employee 213 204 
			 Self-employed 79 45 
			 Member of the public 444 384 
			 Total 736 633 
		
	
	
		Table 2: The number of fatal injuries in Buckinghamshire(28) reported to HSE(29) and local authorities 2000–01 to 2001–02(28)
		
			  2000–01 2001–02(28) 
		
		
			 Employee 4 3 
			 Self-employed 1 — 
			 Member of the public 4 2 
			 Total 9 5 
		
	
	(28) Provisional
	(29) County of Buckinghamshire identified by local authorities: Aylesbury; South Bucks; Chiltern; Wycombe and Milton Keynes Unitary Authority.
	Notes:
	1. The figures for Buckinghamshire do not cover the mining, offshore and railway industries. The figures are based on notifications from employers and others, which for these industries are assigned to a national or other basis and are not readily assignable to a particular county. The figures also do not cover chemical manufacturing industries due to the availability of data at county level from specific HSE information systems.
	2. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is enforced by HSE and local authorities in Great Britain only. Northern Ireland is not within HSE's jurisdiction.
	3. The figures only include fatal injuries reported to HSE and local authorities under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995. They do not include numbers of deaths in work-related road traffic accidents, for example.
	4. The annual basis is the planning year from 1 April to 31 March.

Departmental Computer Systems

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which computer systems within his Department use XML.

Ian McCartney: Any Internet/Intranet-based channel into current DWP systems uses XML. XML is also used as part of the Department's IT infrastructure for systems to communicate with each other—in particular the communications between the new modernised systems a nd the legacy systems.
	Current Departmental systems using XML are:
	Pensions Forecasting System (PFS)
	Customer Management System (CMS)
	New Tax Credits (NTC);
	Empower (First Wave)
	Child Support 2 (formerly known as CSR)
	Child Benefit System
	Contributions Recovery Unit (CRU)—base CRU recovering money from insurance companies
	CRU NHS—exchanges road traffic accident information with the national health service
	Inherited SERPS
	Customer History Database.

Departmental Staff

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to classify groups of staff within his Department as working in a high-risk occupation.

Nick Brown: The Department ensures all work activities undertaken by its staff are thoroughly risk assessed in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
	Where particular hazards are identified through the assessment process appropriate control measures are then put in place to ensure any risks are properly managed out.
	There are currently no plans to classify particular groups of staff.

Disability Living Allowance

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2003, Ref. 93561, what plans he has to conduct a further assessment of the level of fraud in relation to disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement on the reasons why no such assessment has been conducted since February 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: We announced on 3 March, at the Public Accounts Committee hearing on tackling benefit fraud that the Department is intending to run a further benefit review to provide an up-to-date picture of the level of fraud and error in disability living allowance.
	As the approach will be different from that used in 1996, we are planning to run a small pilot during May and June this year. Although the pilot results will not be
	published, the exercise will enable us to test out the most appropriate methodology prior to running the main review next year.
	Measurement of fraud and error is complex and expensive and so we have concentrated our measurement efforts on Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit, which we estimate account for around two-thirds of all losses through fraud and error. However, we keep the need for further measurement of other benefits under review.
	We believe that we should concentrate our resources on prevention and detection of fraud and error rather than just measuring it and latest results show that our efforts are being successful. Between 1997–78 and 2001–02, we had reduced fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance by 24 per cent. more than double our target of a 10 per cent. reduction.

Divorce

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many couples going through a divorce have used the pensions sharing regulations since they were implemented in December 2000; and what proportion this represents of all couples going through a divorce.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	The information available without incurring disproportionate cost is that my Department has been monitoring orders made in the courts and is aware of 1,521 pension sharing or pension attachment orders having been made to date in England and Wales. 137,270 Decrees Absolute were made in 2001.
	The new regulations apply only to those cases where a petition for divorce was filed after 1 December 2000. Many of the cases where a Decree Absolute was granted in 2001 did not, therefore, come under the new regulations. Figures for the number of divorces in 2002 are not yet available.

HCTB1 Form

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place a copy of the new HCTB1 form in the Library.

Malcolm Wicks: A copy of form HCTB1 has been placed in the Library.

Health and Safety Executive

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what hours telephone advice is available from the Health and Safety Executive to the general public; how many requests for telephone advice from the general public to the Health and Safety Executive were received outside normal hours in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement on emergency advice requested by members of the public.

Nick Brown: HSE Infoline is the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Contact Centre providing help and information about health and safety at work, and access to expert advice and guidance. HSE Infoline is open from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm from Monday to Friday, except Bank Holidays.
	Infoline currently receives about 250,000 calls and 25,000 written enquiries a year. During the 12 months ending 28 February 2003, Infoline received 1,683 calls out of hours.
	In addition HSE provides a Duty Officer system to handle calls taken outside normal working hours. In the 12 months ending 28 February 2003, 2,411 calls were received by the Duty Officer system. Of these, 618 calls were passed immediately to an inspector for action and investigation, 1,345 were referred the next working day and 448 were referred to other appropriate agencies including Local Authorities.
	There is also a HSE website which provides 24 hours a day, seven days a week access to a wide range of advice, guidance and information from HSE.

Pension Forecasts

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the differences are in the information sources and technology used to process individual pension forecasts upon request, and those automatically issued prior to retirement.

Ian McCartney: Individual pension forecasts are produced by the Retirement Pension Forecasting System. It uses information from an individual's national insurance record held on the Inland Revenue's National Insurance Recording System (NIRS). It also uses detailed information supplied by the individual on form BR19 when they apply for a forecast.
	The letter entitled "About your Retirement Pension" is produced by the Pension Computer System. It also uses information from an individual's national insurance record. The data are downloaded from the NIRS system to the Pension Computer System approximately four months and eight days prior to the customer attaining pension age to enable the notification to be sent and to allow time for a benefit application to be submitted and processed.

Pensioner Households

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether pensioners will be able to withdraw their pensions using their state pensions books from the Post Office under the new proposals by Royal Mail to introduce Direct Payment.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department for Work and Pensions is introducing Direct Payment as the normal method of paying benefits and pensions from April this year. This means that order books are being phased out.
	Customers need to take no action until they are contacted. When it is their turn to change, they will be supplied with information (including letters and leaflets) which clearly set out the account options as part of the move to Direct Payment. The information material gives the key features of the various types of accounts and explains how people can access their money at the Post Office, if they wish to do so.
	We have always recognised that there will be a small number of people who cannot manage to access their benefit or pension by Direct Payment. An alternative method of payment will be used for this group and will be in place when it is needed.

Pensioner Households

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have taken stakeholder pensions; and when he expects the Government's take-up target to be met.

Ian McCartney: Information specifically concerning the number of individuals taking out a stakeholder pension is not collected. However, figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that by the end of December 2002 1,250,243 stakeholder pensions had been sold.
	Stakeholder pensions were introduced as part of our long-term reforms to ensure that everyone has the chance to save for a decent income in retirement. Stakeholder pensions are intended to provide a low-charge pension option for those people who do not have access to a good company pension scheme with an employer contribution. There is no specific take-up target.
	The impact of stakeholder pensions on saving for retirement extends beyond their sales alone/stakeholder pensions have driven down other personal pension charges; some employers have widened access to their occupational pension schemes; and other employers have set up group personal pensions with an employer contribution.

Post Office Card Account

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice he is giving to (a) blind people and (b) others with disabilities who cannot use the current PIN pads installed in post offices for access to the Post Office card account; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the Written answer I gave the hon. Member for Warrington North (Helen Jones) on 24 March 2003, Official Report, column 10W.

SchlumbergerSema

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been sent home unseen from their medical assessment by SchlumbergerSema since May 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: Of 517,806 customers who attended SchlumbergerSema's Medical Examination Centres for assessments between 1 May 2002 and 28 February 2003, 17,667 or less than 3.5 per cent. were sent home unseen. Customers may be sent home for a number of reasons, including those arriving more than 30 minutes late for their appointment and declining to wait until the doctor can see them.

SchlumbergerSema

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with SchlumbergerSema concerning performance levels since the re-awarding of its contract; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The performance of SchlumbergerSema is formally reviewed against all contracted service levels on a monthly basis. This practice has been continuous since the original contract went live in September 1998.

SchlumbergerSema

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many representations (a) his Department, (b) SchlumbergerSema, (c) the Benefits Agency and (d) Jobcentre Plus have received concerning the performance of SchlumbergerSema in conducting benefits medical assessments in each of the months since the contract was first awarded; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: Medical Services' performance is regularly monitored to ensure people's capacity for work is fairly assessed. The latest figures show that the level of complaints as a proportion of examinations completed has fallen from 0.63 per cent. for quarter ending November 2000 to 0.43 per cent. for the quarter ending February 2003.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		Total number of new complaints received concerning the performance of SchlumbergerSema in conducting medical assessments
		
			  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 
		
		
			 1998 — — — — — — — — 286 331 330 253 
			 1999 318 365 416 315 299 318 308 318 346 349 320 268 
			 2000 282 387 499 348 506 433 451 442 359 366 463 344 
			 2001 388 419 452 348 385 335 351 420 363 318 470 222 
			 2002 391 416 398 334 330 265 376 341 252 359 315 288 
			 2003 289 252 — — — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	Note:
	Information is not collected on the specific point of receipt of each complaint.
	Source:
	Medical Provision and Contracting Team management information.

Smoking

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  when he next plans to review the Approved Code of Practice for the White Papers, "Smoking Kills";
	(2)  when he next plans to meet hospitality trade representatives to discuss the implications of passing the Approved Code of Practice;
	(3)  if he will review the costs and benefits of smoking restrictions in the work place.

Nick Brown: The Government are currently looking at possible options to reduce the exposure of people to tobacco smoke. We will announce our conclusions in due course about how best we will achieve further progress in this area.

Social Fund

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the administrative costs of the Social Fund were in each of the last five financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: (pursuant to my written reply 19 December 2002, col. 1020W.)
	The information is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure by Strategic Objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements (PSA), and by individual Requests for Resources (RfRs) as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts.
	Estimates of the cost of administering the Social Fund are available for 1997–98 and 1998–99 and these are shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			 Financial year Estimated Social Fund expenditure(30) 
		
		
			 1997–98 161,000,000 
			 1998–99 215,000,000 
		
	
	Note:
	Costs are rounded to the nearest £million
	Source:
	Social Security Departmental Reports 1999–2000 (Figure 50) and 2000–01 to 2001–02 (Figure 42).

Targeting Fraud Website

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many hits the Targeting Fraud website has received, broken down by month; how many cases of suspected fraud have been reported to the website; how many of these suspected cases have been investigated; how many (a) cases of fraud have been established, (b) changes to benefits have been made and (c) successful prosecutions there have been, as a result; and what sentences have been imposed by the courts where prosecutions have been successful;
	(2)  how many submissions have been made to the Targeting Fraud website in each month since January 2000; how many referrals for investigation were made as a result of submissions to the Targeting Fraud website; how many investigations were completed as a result of submissions to the website; and how many prosecutions have resulted from website submissions.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not collated centrally on sentences imposed by the courts where successful prosecutions have resulted from the Targeting Fraud Website. The available information is in the table.
	
		Targeting Fraud Website May 2000–December 2002
		
			 Month Number of hits(30) Number of cases of suspected fraud reported Number of cases accepted for action by investigation staff Number of investigations completed Number of resulting benefit rate changes(31) Number of successful prosecutions 
		
		
			 May 2000 — 3 1 1 0 0 
			 June 2000 — 80 27 3 0 0 
			 July 2000 — 93 35 7 1 0 
			 August 2000 — 75 27 18 5 0 
			 September 2000 (32)1,311,930 95 28 13 2 0 
			 October 2000 — 89 29 27 4 0 
			 November 2000 — 81 18 28 6 0 
			 December 2000 — 41 14 13 1 0 
			 January 2001 11,516 68 35 21 5 0 
			 February 2001 58,620 71 22 25 2 0 
			 March 2001 49,027 242 83 28 2 0 
			 April 2001 19,349 317 102 36 9 1 
			 May 2001 8,659 172 60 46 8 0 
			 June 2001 16,475 197 61 54 13 0 
			 July 2001 19,203 144 61 64 12 0 
			 August 2001 15,617 117 39 45 12 0 
			 September 2001 50,905 160 41 57 14 0 
			 October 2001 14,328 200 86 48 12 0 
			 November 2001 22,825 241 111 52 16 1 
			 December 2001 13,382 190 70 48 11 0 
			 January 2002 15,103 384 159 62 15 2 
			 February 2002 14,027 315 134 88 18 0 
			 March 2002 12,548 297 143 73 12 0 
			 April 2002 11,011 333 125 88 18 1 
			 May 2002 9,512 309 127 116 20 2 
			 June 2002 11,293 226 88 86 28 1 
			 July 2002 8,797 244 94 98 26 1 
			 August 2002 7,043 240 69 86 18 1 
			 September 2002 10,182 251 90 87 25 0 
			 October 2002 6,658 318 129 112 37 3 
			 November 2002 8,843 289 118 83 25 1 
			 December 2002 9,202 203 85 72 25 4 
			 Total 1,736,055 6,085 2,311 1,685 402 18 
		
	
	(30) Information provided by the National Benefit Fraud Hotline.
	(31) The number of benefit rate changes includes both increases and decreases both due to client error and to official error. This is not the number of frauds proven, for which data is not available.
	(32) For the month of December 2000 the total figure includes the number of hits from May 2000 until December 2000 and these cannot be broken down by month. Figures were not accessible, at that time, without incurring disproportionate costs.
	(33) The fraud database shows completed cases commenced in the relevant period. Due to the elapsed time between commencement of an investigation and completion of a prosecution there are cases which are inserted into previously completed data for earlier periods. All totals are therefore correct at the time when quoted but subject to adjustment at a later date.
	Source:
	Fraud Information By Sector system
	(34)

HEALTH

Anti-depressants

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Seroxat Users Group regarding the Committee on Safety of Medicines review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class anti-depressants;
	(2)  what action he is taking to ensure that the research conducted by members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines who hold shares in manufacturers of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class anti-depressants is fully independent;
	(3)  what action he is taking to ensure that the review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class anti-depressants being conducted by the Committee of Safety of Medicines is fully independent.

Hazel Blears: holding answers 28 March 2003
	The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the independent scientific advisory group the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) have kept the safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants under close review since authorisation, it is normal practice for the CSM to convene an expert group to consider particular issues. The meeting of the ad hoc expert working group of 21 November 2002 was primarily convened to hear a presentation of the research of Dr. David Healy. Members of the Medicines Act advisory committees, such as the CSM, are required to follow a code of practice relating to declarations of interests in the pharmaceutical industry. The code is applied where members attend meetings of expert working groups and this was the case on 21 November 2002.
	A new CSM expert group is being appointed to conduct further review of SSRIs and appropriate membership is being considered in light of issues raised at the meeting and the further work these will require, as well as further legal advice on interests in the particular circumstances of this class review.
	Officials at the MCA are in contact with members of the Seroxat Users Group and have taken the views of the group into account.

Assisted Conception

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures NHS hospital trusts follow to ensure the safety and reliability of the test-tube baby procedure.

Hazel Blears: National health service trusts, and all other units providing in vitro fertilisation, must be licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and take account of the provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 as well as the HFEA's code of practice and other guidance issued by the HFEA. The HFEA inspects all clinics regularly to make sure the requirements are being met.

Carbon Monoxide

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) deaths, (b) injuries and (c) illnesses have been attributed to carbon monoxide in the (i) UK and (ii) south-west region in each of the past 10 years; and what action the Government has taken, or plans, to reduce the number of people harmed by carbon monoxide.

Hazel Blears: The total number of deaths per year, due to carbon monoxide poisoning of any cause (including suicide) in England has declined from 1,419 in 1992 to 441 in 2001 and in the south-west region has declined from 181 in 1992 to 62 in 2001. A breakdown of the figures for each of the last 10 years has been placed in the Library.
	Figures relating to Scotland and Wales are a matter for the devolved administrations. Whilst the institutions in Northern Ireland are suspended, responsibility lies with the Minister for the Northern Ireland office.
	Unpublished research commissioned by the Department for Trade and Industry has suggested that between 42 and 57 deaths a year in the United Kingdom are the result of carbon monoxide poisoning from domestic appliances. A breakdown for each of the last ten years is shown in the table. This information is not available for the south-west region.
	
		Deaths in the UK from poisoning in the home by carbon monoxide from domestic appliances in 1990–99
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1990 46 
			 1991 51 
			 1992 50 
			 1993 57 
			 1994 55 
			 1995 51 
			 1996 59 
			 1997 42 
			 1998 47 
			 1999 45 
		
	
	In 2002, the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health issued a letter to community nurses, midwives, health visitors and general practitioners to encourage recognition of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. The Department of Health has also commissioned research on the health effects of carbon monoxide.
	Following a fundamental review of gas safety by the Health and Safety Commission completed in 2000, HSC has set a target of a minimum 20 per cent. reduction in gas-related fatalities over a 10-year average; this includes those caused by CO poisoning (75 per cent. of all gas fatalities).
	Measures being taken forward include: improving the public's safety awareness through advice and publicity; driving up gas installers' standards of work by introducing completion certificates to be given to consumers; changes to gas safety enforcement responsibilities and changes to the duties of gas emergency service providers.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 12 December 2002, Official Report, column 493W, on care home applications, what the average length of time is for care home applications to be registered and processed by the National Care Standards Commission; and how many such applications there have been.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not currently available. Information is available, however, for all new registrations relating to care homes for which the National Care Standards Commission received an application after 1 April 2002. This amounts to 779 applications and the average time taken to process these applications is 114 days. Work continues to refine this information and I will write to the hon. Member with the specific information requested when it becomes available.

Civil Service Travel

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grades in the Civil Service in his Department are allowed to travel by air (a) first class and (b) business class at public expense when on official duties.

David Lammy: The Department of Health no longer has traditional civil service grades, but has paybands into which all posts fall. The class of travel used by staff travelling by air on official duties is decided by the manager authorising the travel according to operational needs and not the payband of the traveller. The Department is committed to ensuring that staff use the most efficient and economic means in the circumstances taking into account any management benefit or the requirements of disabled staff.

Commercial Confidentiality

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to civil servants on how to deal with claims from organisations that the information they provide to the Department is commercially confidential.

David Lammy: All those working for and on behalf of the Department have a duty to protect all official information we are entrusted with by ministers, the public and outside organisations.
	It is not standard practice to verify claims of commercial confidentiality on receiving information from organisations, as this issue is normally only relevant if the question arises as to whether or not the information should be disclosed to another party. The Code of Practice on access to Government Information—and the guidance on the operation of the Code—helps officials determine whether such information should be disclosed or withheld in response to an individual request.

Commission for Patient andPublic Improvement in Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are planned to work in the nine regional centres of the Commission for Patient and Public Improvement in Health in Birmingham.

David Lammy: Staffing arrangements for the regional centres of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health are a matter for the Commission.

Commission for Patient andPublic Improvement in Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time staff work in the headquarters of the Commission for Patient and Public Improvement in Health in Birmingham; and what plans there are to change this number.

David Lammy: Staffing arrangements are a matter for the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH). Further information relating to these can be obtained directly from the CPPIH at 9th Floor, Ladywood House, 45–56 Stephenson Street, Birmingham, B2 4DY.

Commission for Patient andPublic Improvement in Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget of the Commission for Patient and Public Improvement in Health is in 2002–03 for (a) training members of local forums and (b) national and local publicity.

David Lammy: The costs for the training of local forum members will be met from the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health's (CPPIH) 2003–04 budget. Expenditure on national and local publicity and indeed other activities in 2002–03, is a matter for the CPPIH.

Community Pharmacists

Mr. Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of community pharmacists.

David Lammy: Community pharmacists play a vital role in the national health service and in local communities more generally. They dispense around 600 million NHS prescriptions a year. They provide advice on minor ailments and sell a wide range of medicines which help people take care of their own health. They are increasingly involved in a range of additional services, including detailed advice to patients and to doctors on the use of medicines, smoking cessation schemes, and supervised consumption of methadone by drug misusers. The first repeat dispensing schemes, under which community pharmacists will supply repeat medication for up to a year, will begin shortly.
	Later this year, the first pharmacists will become supplementary prescribers. We want to see an increased role for community pharmacists in providing services to NHS patients and we are currently developing a new contractual framework to make that happen. We also want to improve access and choice, so that more NHS patients can use the skills of community pharmacists for advice, information and services.

Consultants

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the clinical consultant caseload in Portsmouth is (a) ward-based and (b) home-based; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: This information is not held centrally. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) only holds data for admitted patient care in England's national health service hospitals, and therefore, data are not available for home care. Collection of data at ward level is not mandatory and therefore is not available.

Dentistry

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS registered dentists there were in the Buckinghamshire Health Authority in 2002;
	(2)  how many dental practices in the Buckingham constituency (a) closed and (b) opened in 2002.

Hazel Blears: The numbers of national health service dentists in Buckinghamshire health authority in the general dental service (CDS), personal dental service (PDS) and salaried service of the GDS at 30 September 2002 are shown in the table. The numbers of dentists for the community and hospital dental services are shown for 30 September 2001.
	
		NHS dental services at 30 September 2002—Buckinghamshire health authority
		
			  Number of dentists(35) 
		
		
			 General dental service(36) 291 
			 Personal dental service(37) 27 
			 Community dental service(38) 30 
			 Hospital dental service(38) 10 
			 Salaried service of the GDS 4 
		
	
	(35) Dentists are counted in each dental service in which they practice apart from PDS dentists working in the GDS who are counted in the GDS only.
	(36) GDS cover principals on the health authority list, assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
	(37) The PDS covers dentists working in the PDS who are not also working in the GDS.
	(38) Rounded to the nearest 10 at 30 September 2001.
	These figures are on a headcount basis rather than whole time equivalent (wte) and take no account of part-time working.
	There were no dental practices closed in 2002, nor were any new practices opened during 2002.

Dentistry

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further help he will give to primary care trusts in rural areas to recruit NHS dentists.

David Lammy: The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, introduced to the House on 12 March, proposes that each primary care trust (PCT) be given a duty to provide or secure the provision of primary dental services in its area to the extent that it considers reasonable to do so and be given the financial resources to do this. These financial resources are currently managed centrally. It is the intention of the Bill that local commissioning will give PCTs levers that they do not currently have to influence the provision of oral health services in their areas, rural or otherwise.
	The Bill also puts in place a framework by which it will be possible to pay dentists differently. Under the proposed arrangements, primary care dentists would be able to spend more time with their patients and focus on prevention and health promotion as well as treatment. It is anticipated that this will make national health service dentistry a more attractive option for dentists and that they will be encouraged to remain within the NHS or increase their NHS commitment.

Departmental Catering Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by the Department in 2002.

David Lammy: During 2002, the cost to the Department, excluding agencies, of in house canteen services was 84,000 and other catering services £776,000.
	The cost of in house canteen services reflects the management fee paid on one of the Department's contracts. The cost of accommodation and utilities, associated with the provision of in-house facilities, has not been included.

Departmental Invoices

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the occasions on which (a) his Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 2001–02.

David Lammy: The payment record during 2001–02 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number on time Percentage Number late Percentage 
		
		
			 Department of Health 340,881 96.35 12,921 3.65 
			 Agencies 26,747 80.28 6,570 19.72 
			 NDPBs 69,711 72.71 26,161 27.29

Expenditure (Ministers' Offices)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the running costs in 2002 were of (a) his Ministers' private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff, and (b) his Department.

David Lammy: In the financial year 2001–02, it cost £2,876,000 to run Ministers' private offices, £2,242,000 of which was staff costs.
	Outturn against the Department's Administration Cost Limit for 2001–02 is reported in Note 6.1 of the Department's resource accounts for 2001–02, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Five-a-day Co-ordinators

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts employ National Five-A-Day co-ordinators; and what the salary is of each.

Hazel Blears: Salford Primary Care Trust was awarded a grant by the New Opportunities Fund to employ Five-A-Day co-ordinators. One is a part-time national post at a salary of £35,000 per annum pro rata; and 10 are regional co-ordinators—seven full-time and three part-time—at salaries between £25,000 and £30,000 pro rata.

Food Standards Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the buildings (a) owned and (b) used by the Food Standards Agency, giving in each case (i) their location and (ii) their latest market value; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and its executive agency The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) do not own any buildings. The FSA's head office in Kingsway, London, has an annual rent of £4.2 million. Devolved offices are located in Aberdeen, Belfast and Cardiff with annual rentals of £160,000, £67,000 and £51,000 respectively.
	The MHS has its head office in York. The annual rent is £346,000. The MHS has regional offices in York (annual rent £48,000), Edinburgh (£7,000), Wolverhampton (£19,000), Cardiff (£18,000) and Taunton (£16,000).

Food Standards Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the total cost to public funds of the Food Standards Agency in each year from 1999–2000 to 2004–05 (planned).

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) was formed on 1 April 2000. The total costs to the public funds in the United Kingdom of the FSA, including the activities of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), which is an executive agency of the FSA and its offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the years to 2004–05 are shown in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			 Financial Year FSA MHS Total 
		
		
			 2000–01 (actual) 80.0 3.7 83.7 
			 2001–02 (actual) 97.4 18.1 115.5 
			 2002–03 (planned) 102 25 127 
			 2003–04 n/a n/a 138 
			 2004– n/a n/a 147

Genetics

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to publish the Green Paper on Genetics.

Hazel Blears: We have been developing our proposals on genetics and these will be published shortly.

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources will be made available to health overview and scrutiny committees from funds previously allocated to community health councils.

David Lammy: The £23.5 million previously made available to fund Community Health Councils (CHCs) is contributing to the much wider programme of Government initiatives to support and strengthen patient and public involvement.
	The functions of CHCs are being picked up by a range of mechanisms which include patient advice and liaison services, independent complaints advocacy services, patients forums, the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health and the scrutiny of health services by local authority overview and scrutiny committees. Overall the funding has increased substantially.
	Funding to support local authority scrutiny of the national health services is currently being considered within the Department and an announcement will be made shortly.

Healthy Workplace Initiative (Buckinghamshire)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) companies, (b) voluntary organisations and (c) public sector organisations based in the Buckinghamshire constituency have signed up to the healthy workplace initiative; what information he has received; and at what cost to public funds.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the response given to him by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ms Blears), on Tuesday 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1152W. There has been no change in the position since this response was given.

Human Cloning

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy on human cloning.

Hazel Blears: The United Kingdom already has a legal ban, the Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001, that prevents any attempt to carry out human reproductive cloning.
	In its response to the 2002 House of Lords Select Committee report on stem cell research, the Government agreed with the Select Committee that there is a powerfulcase for the use of therapeutic cloning, under strict regulation, as a research tool.
	Such research is permitted and regulated under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.

Independent Complaint Advocacy Service

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Independent Complaint Advocacy Service will be established.

David Lammy: I refer my hon. Friend to the response I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Clive Efford) on 19 March 2003, Official Report, columns 849–50W.

Infections (Plane Travel)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who became ill from infection caused by travelling by plane, broken down by (a) common cold, (b) influenza and (c) other illnesses, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected.

Meat Hygiene

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many red meat and poultry meat slaughterhouses (a) have introduced the Meat (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) system since 7 June 2002, (b) have since been the subject of enforcement action because of contravention of the regulations and (c) are about to be subject to such action or are being considered for such action because of contraventions of the regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 1 April 2003
	The Meat (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) Regulations 2002 came into effect on 7 June 2002 in respect of large licensed meat plants and of these, 78 red meat and poultry meat slaughterhouses have fully implemented the requirements, 15 such premises have since been the subject of enforcement action because of contravention of these regulations and five are being considered for such action.

Mental Health

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the (a) mental health service improvements announced in the national service framework for mental health and (b) NHS plan for (i) crisis teams, (ii) assertive outreach programmes, (iii) home treatment, (iv) early intervention in psychosis and (v) primary care mental health teams will be launched in the Portsmouth area; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The mental health national service framework, published in September 1999, outlines national standards for mental health and how they should be developed and delivered. It concentrates on the mental health needs of working age adults, and covers health promotion, assessment and diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and care, encompassing primary and secondary care as well as the roles of partner agencies.
	In the Portsmouth area work to develop mental health services is on-going. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority has advised of the following mental health services in place:
	Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment
	Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust (PCT) has gained successful approval of its crisis resolution and home treatment business case at the PCT board and recruitment of key staff posts commenced in March 2003.
	Assertive Outreach
	Portsmouth City PCT has a small assertive outreach team, which has been operating since 1999.
	Early Intervention Psychosis
	Portsmouth City PCT is working with colleagues in Hampshire to develop a model.
	Primary Care Mental Health Teams
	Portsmouth City has a number of pilot GP practices.

MS Drugs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each nominated prescribing centre in the risk sharing scheme for MS drugs the (a) planned and (b) actual establishment by (i) type of occupation and (ii) grade; what the total population covered is; how many people with MS each covers; if he will estimate how many MS sufferers are likely to be eligible for each under ABN guidelines; and how much has been spent to date by each on (A) prescribing and (B) staffing.

David Lammy: We do not hold this information centrally.

NHS Staff

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) patient pathway supervisors, (b) customer relationship managers, (c) Sure Start managers, (d) National Five-A-Day Co-ordinators, (e) facilitators, (f) assertive outreach managers, (g) bilingual advocates, (h) liaison officers and (i) strategists are employed in the national health service; and what their average salary is in each case.

Hazel Blears: The information requested for patient pathway supervisors, customer relationship managers, facilitators, bilingual advocates, liaison officers and strategists is not collected centrally.
	There are 11 Five-A-Day co-ordinator posts, of which three are part-time in the regions with eight co-ordinators having been recruited so far.
	Salford Primary Care Trust was awarded a grant by the New Opportunities Fund to employ Five-A-Day co-ordinators in each region plus one supra-regional co-ordinator. The salary of the supra-regional co-ordinator will be around £35,000. The regional co-ordinators' salaries are between £25,000 and £30,000.
	In October 2001, there were 191 assertive outreach teams and 90 whole-time equivalent assertive outreach managers.
	There are currently 439 sure start programmes. The number of managers in these areas and their average salary is not collected centrally.

Obesity

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has conducted into (a) the cost to the public sector and (b) the impact on public spending between 2003 and 2020 as a result of children currently classified as clinically obese; and if he will place copies of the research in the Library.

Hazel Blears: The Department of Health has not carried out any research into the cost to the public sector and the impact on public spending between 2003 and 2020 of clinically obese children.
	The National Audit Office report, Tackling Obesity in England, published in February 2001, estimated that the direct cost for both children and adults to the National Health Service to treating obesity in 1998 was £9.4 million. Treating the consequences of obesity cost the National Health Service approximately 480 million per year, or about 1.5 per cent. of the total NHS expenditure for that year. The National Audit Office report predicted that if theprevalence of obesity continues to rise at the present rate until 2010, these annual costs would increase by £1 billion, or over a third, to around £3.6 billion, by that year. Extrapolation beyond 2010 can not be calculated with any certainty.
	The Government is committed to halting the current trend of increasing overweight and obesity in both children and adults through cross- government work on diet and physical activity.

Passive Smoking

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into levels of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke using (a) examinations of hair, blood, saliva and urine to detect constituents of metabolites of tobacco smoke, (b) personal monitors to gather data, (c) surveys and questionnaires on the time and frequency of exposure and (d) measurement of air concentration of constituents of second-hand tobacco smoke.

Hazel Blears: Research was recently commissioned to develop new and more accurate methodology to determine the constituents of sidestream smoke. The final methodology developed was published last year as "Sidestream smoke collection using a harmonised linear smoking machine" by Fiona Thomas and Keith Darrall in Beitrage zur Tabakforschung International, volume 20, part 2, pages 69—76, June 2002.
	The Department has not commissioned research into any of the other areas mentioned.

Passive Smoking

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of cases of lung cancer that are caused by passive smoking in the workplace.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 20 March 2003
	The information is not available in the form requested.
	The independent Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) examined the increased risk of prolonged exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in its 1998 report. It was concluded that long term exposure of non-smokers to environmental tobacco smoke caused an increased risk of lung cancer which, in those living with smokers, is in the region of 20 to 30 per cent. The numbers of people exposed are not known precisely, but an estimate would suggest about several hundred extra lung cancer deaths a year are caused by exposure to passive smoking. A separate estimate for lung cancer caused by exposure to tobacco smoke in the workplace has not been produced.
	Source:
	Report of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health. London: The Stationery Office, 1998.
	Available at: http://www.archive.officiahdocuments.co.uk/document/doh/tobacco/report.htm

Patients' Complaints

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place to handle Wandsworth patients' complaints after September; what plans he has for (a) the Wandsworth pilot Patients' Forum and (b) the Wandsworth pilot Independent Complaints Advocacy Service; and which of these will deal with complaints.

David Lammy: It is our intention that Independent Complaints Advocacy Services (ICAS) will be available throughout the country from 1 September 2003.
	In the new system of patient and public involvement, local delivery of ICAS is the responsibility of primary care trust (PCT) patients' forums. As an interim measure, while patients forums are being established and are building their capacity and networks, we shall be working with the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) to put in place national coverage of ICAS through a contract with specialist complaints support providers.
	I recently announced an extension to the ICAS pilots, including the Wandsworth pilot, to 31 July 2003.
	The CPPIH has a specific remit to set national standards for ICAS and to monitor compliance. The ICAS pilots currently work to draft national standards and are developing local operational protocols, which will inform future provision.

Pharmacies

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to safeguard access to pharmacy services for people living in rural areas.

David Lammy: Under the National Health Service Act 1977, it is the responsibility of national health service primary care trusts (PCTs) to arrange the provision of pharmaceutical services in their area. This includes determining whether it is necessary or desirable to secure adequate provision of services by granting new applications. The Health and Social Care Act 2001 also empowers PCTs to devise contracts for local pharmaceutical services which address particular local needs.
	The Essential Small Pharmacy Scheme provides additional financial support to pharmacies which might otherwise be unviable.

Pharmacies

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pharmacies (a) opened and (b) closed in (i) the UK, (ii) Suffolk and (iii) the Bury St. Edmunds constituency in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The table shows information on the number of pharmacies opening and closing in England and Wales and in the former Suffolk Health Authority in the five years to 31 March 2002. Such information for Bury St. Edmunds is not held centrally, but there has been no change in the number of pharmacies in Bury St. Edmunds over this period. Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland should be requested from the relevant administrations.
	
		
			  Number of NHS pharmacies 
			 Year ending(39) Opening Closing 
		
		
			 England and Wales 
			 1998 48 46 
			 1999 51 56 
			 2000 27 37 
			 2001 36 40 
			 2002 30 34 
			 Suffolk health authority 
			 1998 0 0 
			 1999 0 0 
			 2000 3 0 
			 2001 2 0 
			 2002 0 1 
		
	
	(39) 31 March

Pharmacies

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the contribution his Department made to the Office of Fair Trading's recent report on entry controls for pharmacies.

David Lammy: holding answer 31 March 2003
	Officials from the Department of Health met staff from the Office of Fair Trading during the course of their enquiry into entry controls for pharmacies and provided factual material. The Department did not provide a contribution to the text of the report. Decisions about content are the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading.

Preventive Medicine

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of preventative medicine in the National Health Service.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, in his speech to the Faculty of Public Health Medicine on 20 November 2002, reaffirmed the Government's commitment to put public health and addressing health inequality at the heart of the National Health Service. Prevention and delaying the onset of disease are key priorities of the NHS Plan, Cancer Plan, and the national service frameworks (NSFs).
	The planning and priorities framework, "Improvement, Expansion and Reform", which sets out the priorities for the next three years for the NHS and social services, includes targets for:
	smoking cessation (including reduction of smoking in pregnancy)
	initiation of breastfeeding
	practice-based registers to ensure that patients with or at risk of coronary heart disease and diabetes receive appropriate care and treatment in line with NSF standards, including advice on diet, physical activity and smoking.
	Medical training, particularly undergraduate training is already beginning to reflect this emphasis upon prevention. Under the recently revised curriculum, set by the GeneralMedical Council, effectively on behalf of the Government, there is a substantially enhanced public health and prevention content.

School Fruit Schemes

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether, under the National School Fruit Scheme, all four-year-olds in education are entitled to a free piece of fruit each school day; and whether this entitlement applies to children in LEA maintained nursery schools, as well as nursery classes attached to primary schools.

Hazel Blears: The National School Fruit Scheme is a Government commitment to entitle all four to six-year-olds to a free piece of fruit each school day from 2004.
	Entitlement at present is restricted to children in areas where region-wide pilots for the scheme have already been introduced. Eligibility for these pilots is defined as four to six-year-olds in local education authority (LEA) maintained infant, primary and special schools and other children in the same classes. This includes nursery classes attached to these schools but not stand-alone nursery schools, whether or not they are LEA maintained.
	During these pilots, we are keeping all aspects of the scheme under review, including the application of eligibility criteria, prior to the national scheme being introduced.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to protect the public against severe acute respiratory syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement that I gave today.

Smoking

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many smokers there are in the UK population; and what evaluation he has made of the resultant cost to the NHS per individual.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 19 March 2003
	There were an estimated 12.7 million smokers in the United Kingdom in 2001.
	In 1997, the latest year for which there is data, it was estimated that treating illness and disease caused by smoking costs the national health service in England up to £1.7 billion every year in terms of general practitioner visits, prescriptions, treatment and operations 1 . No comparable information is available for the remainder of the UK.
	It is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the cost to the NHS per smoker from these data, as costs are incurred not just for current smokers but also for ex-smokers and those affected by passive smoking.
	1 Buck D., Godfrey C., Parrott S., Raw M., University of York Centre for Health Economics. "Cost effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions". London: Health Education Authority, 1997.

Smoking

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to ban smoking in restaurants.

Hazel Blears: The Government wants to increase the number of smoke-free environments. We have worked closely with the hospitality trade to develop a Public Places Charter designed provide customers with clear information on the type of smoking policy operating in a particularestablishment and allow them to make an informed choice.
	As part of ensuring people have the information to make an informed choice we are developing education and information resources to raise awareness and understanding of the risks associated with passive smoking.
	This includes increasing the visibility of health messages highlighting to smokers the risks environmental tobacco smoke presents. This is through regulations to transpose into UnitedKingdom law the European Union directive on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products. These regulations require tobacco products to carry larger and starker health warnings, on both the front and back of the packet. The dangers of passive smoking are highlighted in two of the new warnings, which include "Smoking seriously harms you and others around you" and "Protect children: don't make them breathe your smoke" The contents of tobacco smoke are also highlighted in a warning saying, "Smoke contains benzene, nitrosomines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide".
	We are also encouraging all employers to introduce smoke-free work places. This year the Department is funding local tobacco control alliances across England to carry out projects in close co-operation with local employers to tackle passive smoking and to increase the number of smoke-free environments. These projects vary in nature from the production of smoke-free guides to pubs and restaurants to the provision of advice and support to managers wishing to introduce policies. We hope that many will be suitable for national application.

Telephone Helplines

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 20 February 2003, Official Report, column 38W, on telephone helplines, how many calls were made to each helpline charged at national rate in the last year for which records are available; and what the average duration of these calls was.

David Lammy: The Department does not hold records of these calls.

Two Shires Ambulance Trust

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed by Two Shires Ambulance Trust in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002.

Hazel Blears: I have been advised by Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority that the number of staff employed by Two Shires Ambulance Trust in 2001 was 857 and in 2002 was 923.
	These figures include the staff employed by the trust who work at the NHS Direct site in Milton Keynes.

Two Shires Ambulance Trust

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the sickness absence rate was for the Two Shires Ambulance Trust in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002.

Hazel Blears: The sickness absence rate for the Two Shires Ambulance National Health Service Trust for 2000 and 2001 is shown in the table. The survey for 2002 has not yet been completed.
	
		Sickness absence rate—Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 2000 5.5 
			 2001 5.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are the amount of time lost through absences as a percentage of staff time available.
	2. The survey for 2002 has not yet been completed.
	Source:
	Department of Health survey of sickness absence.

United Kingdom Accreditation Service

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Public Health Laboratory Service will maintain its UK Accreditation Service accreditation when it transfers into the NHS.

Hazel Blears: The Public Health Laboratory Service will be transferring to national health service trusts 31 of its laboratories that carry out general clinical diagnostic microbiology. We are advised that these transfers will not affect their accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Scheme (UKAS).

Unlicensed Taxi Drivers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance his Department has issued to ambulance trusts on the vetting of taxi drivers used as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has issued to ambulance trusts on the employment of unlicensed taxi drivers as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust;
	(3)  what duty ambulance trusts have to ensure that drivers employed as sub-contractors are persons who can be trusted with the safety of their passengers;
	(4)  what guidance his Department has issued to ambulance trusts on the employment of taxi firms without an operator's licence as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust;
	(5)  what duty ambulance trusts have to ensure that vehicles used by taxi firms as sub-contractors are in a condition to transport patients safely;
	(6)  what duty ambulance trusts have to ensure that firms employed as sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust hold an operator's licence;
	(7)  what recent discussions his Department has had with Essex Ambulance Trust on the use of sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the Trust.

David Lammy: The Department of Health has not had any discussions with Essex Ambulance Trust on the use of sub-contractors to transport patients on behalf of the trust.
	All national health service bodies, including ambulance trusts, have to meet the control assurance standards contained in the following document, issued December 2001, "Management of Purchasing and Supply, Incorporating Control of Contracts and Contractors". A copy of this will be placed in the Library.

Waiting Lists

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Buckinghamshire health authority area waited more than (a) 13 weeks and (b) 26 weeks for a first outpatient appointment in each reporting period over the past two years.

Hazel Blears: The number of patients in the Buckinghamshire health authority who waited more than 13 weeks and 26 weeks for a first outpatient appointment is shown in the table.
	
		
			   Patients seen who have waited: 
			 Year Quarter 13 to 26 weeks 26 plus weeks 
		
		
			  Data pre "Shifting the Balance of Power" 
			 2000–01 4 5,611 1,737 
			 2001–02 1 3,970 685 
			 2001–02 2 4,771 770 
			 2001–02 3 5,562 1,068 
			 2001–2 4 — — 
			  Data post "Shifting the Balance of Power"(40) 
			 2002–03 1 5,123 425 
			 2002–03 2 6,380 174 
			 2002–03 3 6,039 342 
		
	
	(40) Includes Chiltern and South Bucks primary care trust (PCT), Milton Keynes PCT, Vale of Aylesbury PCT and Wycombe PCT.
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08R

TREASURY

Heroin (Afghanistan)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to monitor and control the dispersal of heroin from Afghanistan, with particular reference to its import into the UK.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise is providing advice and assistance to the Afghan Transitional Administration to help counter the narcotics trade there. Customs also has a network of Drug Liaison Officers who gather intelligence and assist in the interdiction of heroin along transit routes from Afghanistan to the UK.

Air Passenger Duty

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual revenue to the Exchequer from air passenger duty was in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) destination category and (b) rate category.

John Healey: Details of revenue from air passenger duty, by destination category and rate category, are published in the HM Customs and Excise 'Air Passenger Duty Factsheet' (February 2002, Page l), a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House.

Humanitarian Relief

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reimburse the Department for International Development for the money it has allocated for humanitarian relief from next year's contingency reserve.

John Healey: holding answer 1 April 2003
	The Government have set aside a total of £240 million for humanitarian assistance in Iraq. This includes £30 million for the MOD to provide immediate assistance on the ground, and £210 million which DfID will distribute, including an extra £120 million announced by the Chancellor on 27 March 2003.
	There are no plans to reimburse DfID for the money it has allocated for humanitarian relief from its contingency reserve.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by his Department.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the Minister of State, Cabinet Office is giving him today.

Tobacco Duty

John Randall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the level of revenue received from duty on tobacco in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Excise duty and estimated VAT receipts for tobacco are published in the HM Customs and Excise "Tobacco Factsheet" Page 1, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Civil Contingency Planning

Paul Keetch: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Department's (a) responsibilities and (b) assets with regard to civil contingency planning; what funds are committed; what action he is taking within his Department to improve such planning; and what action he is taking in collaboration with other departments.

Christopher Leslie: (a) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 21 March 2003, Official Report, columns 957–58W.
	(b) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister civil contingency responsibilities include the readiness of the Fire Service to respond to civil threats, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attack, the ability of the regions to engage in effective emergency planning; and earthquakes and major building structural failures. For the Fire Service, a total of £56 million has been committed to the New Dimension mass decontamination programme. On search and rescue, £3 million has been made available for the training of responders, the purchase of technical search and rescue and heavy rescue equipment, and the provision of training rigs at the Fire Service College; and a further £2 million to provide for the special needs of the capital.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is establishing regional resilience teams in Government Offices from 1 April 2003 to assist in providing multi-agency strategic direction to civil protection planning and preparedness at regional level.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also responsible for the inter-agency London Resilience Team, which acts to drive and co-ordinate emergency planning against a catastrophic incident in the capital. It has reviewed preparedness in the capital and developed an urgent programme of action to strengthen the high level of resilience.
	A small unit co-ordinates the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's response to broader civil contingency issues and the development of plans and capabilities in relation to its responsibilities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also taking appropriate actions to ensure the resilience of it's own operations. This includes collaboration with other Departments.

Communities Plan

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with the implementation of the Communities Plan.

Tony McNulty: The investment set out in the Communities Plan comes on stream at the start of financial year 2003–04. Work is proceeding across the whole agenda of the Plan and milestones have been achieved in a number of areas.
	Most of the market renewal pathfinders have now been established with early action proceeding in these areas alongside finalisation of strategic schemes.
	In the growth areas the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is in discussion with local partners about strengthened local delivery arrangements.
	The Housing Corporation's 2003–04 programme for investment in affordable housing has been announced. The challenge fund element will deliver some 8000 homes, of which about half will be for key workers, and some 2,500 will be built using modern methods of construction.
	On 31 March we published our Housing Bill. This includes proposals for licensing of landlords and changes to the rules relating to the Right to Buy.
	The home ownership task force has been launched, and regional housing boards have been set up in the regions.

European Working Groups

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with achieving transparency in respect of the European working groups for which his Department is responsible.

Christopher Leslie: The Government remain committed to greater openness in the EU institutions, including working groups, and strongly support the measures agreed at the Seville European Council to make the council more open in its legislative process. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister welcomes Regulation 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, council and commission documents as a result of which more documents are released to the public while genuinely sensitive documents are given the necessary protection.

Homebuy Scheme

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people in the Buckingham constituency have received interest free equity loans under the Homebuy Scheme; and what the total amount of funding granted is.

Tony McNulty: Up until 28 February 2003, 49 Homebuy purchases had been completed in Buckinghamshire since the scheme began in April 1999. The total amount of funding provided by the Housing Corporation for Homebuy purchases in Buckinghamshire was £1,693,269. A breakdown by local authority is tabled as follows:
	
		
			 Local authority Homebuy completions Funding provided (£) 
		
		
			 Aylesbury Vale 7 199,019 
			 Chiltern 0 0 
			 Milton Keynes 5 133,917 
			 South Buckinghamshire 21 695,150 
			 Wycombe 16 665,183 
			 Total 49 1,693,269

Housing Development (Ministry of Defence Land)

Sue Doughty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with colleagues in the Ministry of Defence on the release of MOD-owned land in South East England for housing development; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has not had discussions with colleagues in the Ministry of Defence about the release of land in the South East himself. Officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have, however, had discussions involving Ministry of Defence, the regional agencies and English Partnerships over broad issues relating to Ministry of Defence land in the South East.
	On a national level, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has given English Partnerships a new strategic role for surplus public sector land across Government. They are now drawing up a register of surplus public sector land. Working with the RDAs, they will help ensure that wider Government objectives, such as housing and regional economic strategies, are factored into future site disposals.

Regional Government

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the responses he has received to Government proposals for a referendum on a regional assembly for the South West.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has so far received over 5,400 responses to it's soundings exercise about the level of interest in each English region in holding a referendum about an elected regional assembly. 540 have been identified as being from the South West.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will announce its decisions after the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill has received Royal Assent.

Travellers

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the publicly-owned travellers sites broken down by (a) local authority and (b) parliamentary constituences.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister publishes an annual count of authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites in England, which is broken down into each local authority area. The annual sites count and bi-annual caravan count is also available through the website. The January 2003 sites count will be published in due course.
	A copy of the latest sites and caravan count has been placed in the Library of the House.

Voluntary Organisations

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many grants have been paid in 2002–03 to voluntary organisations based in the Buckingham constituency from the Special Grants Programme.

Tony McNulty: The Special Grants Programme (SGP) is administered by open competition. One funding application was received from a Buckinghamshire-based voluntary organisation during the 2002–3 SGP competition. This application was unsuccessful; consequently no grants were awarded within the Buckinghamshire constituency.

Walton Group Plc

Louise Ellman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made on the return of the Government grant given to the Walton Group plc in relation to Exchange Flags, Liverpool; and where the funds will be applied.

Tony McNulty: Between November 1992 and July 1994, developers the Walton Group Plc and contractors Todd and Benn (Contractors) Limited were given £4,444,782 in a City Grant to renovate the disused Exchange Buildings in Liverpool. When English Partnerships (EP) claimed that the work was not completed, the Government sought the return of the grant plus costs incurred. The case was settled out of court last year.
	Shortly before the final payment deadline of 1 April 2003, English Partnerships received a full and final cash settlement of just over £5.5 million. This represents the full amount of the original grant and all the costs expended.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 18 November 2002, Official Report, column 125W, the settlement terms allowed for interest to accrue under certain circumstances. This clause was triggered, and the sum received therefore also includes the full amount of interest due.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is now asking EP to work with the city council and the North West Development Agency—its partners in Liverpool Vision, the city's urban regeneration company—to identify appropriate projects that will ensure the original grant money can now be applied for the benefit of Liverpool City Centre.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Arrests

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested and not charged in each of the past five years; and how many of them had never been arrested previously.

Bob Ainsworth: Data given in the table are for arrests for notifiable offences within the financial years 1999–2000 to 2001–02. Information for earlier years is not available on a consistent basis.
	Statistics on the number of people who following arrest are not charged, or those who have never been arrested previously, are not collected centrally.
	
		Persons arrested for notifiable offences recorded by the police, from 1999–2000 to 2001–02 -- £
		
			 Year (41)England and Wales 
		
		
			 1999–2000 1,277,900 
			 2000–01 1,264,200 
			 2001–02 1,271,900 
		
	
	(41) Total (estimated)

Asylum Seekers

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether asylum seekers serving prison sentences are able to apply for hard cases section 4 NASS support.

Beverley Hughes: Accommodation may be provided under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, as amended, in certain circumstances to asylum seekers whose claims have been finally determined as unsuccessful. Clearly, those in custody cannot obtain section 4 support. Similarly, asylum seekers who have not yet received a final decision on their claim for asylum are not eligible for accommodation under section 4.
	We seek to deport failed asylum seekers and others without rights of residence in the United Kingdom on completion of a prison sentence. Section 4 support would only be available if it was not possible for them to leave the country or be deported.

Asylum Seekers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers and their dependants are supported by (a) NASS, (b) local authorities and (c) the mainstream welfare benefits system.

Beverley Hughes: At the end of December 2002, 54,070 asylum seekers (including dependants) were being supported in The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation and 37,810 asylum seekers (including dependants) were in receipt of subsistence only support 1 . These statistics are available on the Home Office's immigration and asylum website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	From grant claims sent to the Home Office by English and Welsh local authorities, as at the end of December 2002,29,485 households were in receipt of local authority support(comprising 16,980 individuals and 12,505 families) 1 .
	At the end of December 2002, 3,865 asylum seeker households (comprising 1,295 individuals and 2,570 families, were being supported by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
	1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

Civil Contingencies

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's (a) responsibilities and (b) assets with regard to civil contingency planning; what funds are committed; what action he is taking within his Department to improve such planning; and what action he is taking in collaboration with other departments.

David Blunkett: I am responsible for co-ordination arrangement on counter-terrorism and civil contingencies across Government. With regard to the first part of the question I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr Douglas Alexander) on 21 March 2003, Official Report, column 957W.
	The Cabinet Office is the lead department for civil emergency planning. The Home Office leads on developing the UK's capability to respond to terrorist inspired CBRN incidents and does not hold assets for civil emergency planning. The Department is playing a leading role in the government's work to ensure that the emergency services have the equipment and the trained officers necessary to respond to civil emergencies particularly incidents caused by CBRN terrorism.
	As Home Secretary, I have responsibility within the Government for domestic national security, including counter-terrorism policy, and also for our work relating to preparedness in the face of a terrorist attack. I chair two Cabinet Sub-Committees which deal with these matters, bringing together Ministers from all relevant departments to ensure that contingencies arrangements are in place. Each department, of course, takes responsibility for its own resilience in the face of terrorist attacks and other emergencies. I refer the hon. Member again to the reply given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 21 March for that department's role in co-ordinating these arrangements for resilience in government and the public sector.
	I gave a full account of the Government's response to dealing with the consequences of a terrorist attack when I made a statement to the House during the debates on the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 on 3 March 2003, Official Report, column 72WS.

Communities Against Drugs Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) those schemes which have received funding under the Communities Against Drugs Initiative in the Buckingham constituency, (b) the amount received and (c) targets set to reduce crime under the scheme.

Bob Ainsworth: The schemes that have been funded under the Communities Against Drugs (CAD) funding stream in the Buckingham Constituency comprise of Sound Studio workshops for young people, youth diversionary activities equipment, a surveillance vehicle, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and a 'Handy Man' scheme. It has also paid for a Proactive Unit police sergeant and Drugs Outreach Workers which link young people into an arrest referral weekend project.
	The CAD funding allocation to Aylesbury Vale totalled £127,200 in each of the years 2001–02 and 2002–03. For 2003–04, the total partnership allocation of proposed combined CAD and Safer Community Initiative funding will be £176,346, of which the CAD element remains £127, 200. The total allocation over the three year period is therefore £430,746.
	To reduce crime under CAD, the broad aims are to disrupt local drugs markets, to tackle drug related crime and to strengthen communities. The Home Office does not set any specific target for partnerships for this funding in terms of reduction in crime they should achieve, but their work using CAD funds should contribute to the various targets for reducing crime and drugs set out in the Home Office business plan. In relation to supply of drugs their work under CAD funding should contribute to a police target of a 10 per cent. increase per annum of persons charged, summonsed or cautioned for supply of Class A drugs.

Departmental Website

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost of his Department's website was in the last 12 months; and how many hits it received in the same period.

David Blunkett: The available information for the main Home Office website is shown in the table.
	
		
			  2002–03 
		
		
			 Cost (£) 180,290.83 
			 Number of page impressions 74,814,304 
		
	
	The Home Office website moved to a new server on 1 July 2002. Due to technical limitations on the server used between April and June 2002, no full record is available of the page impressions made of some parts of the site during that period. The figure shown in the table therefore under-represents the real number of page impressions.
	With over half of the homes in the United Kingdom now online 1 and public access on the rise, our website is an invaluable tool for disseminating important information to the public and in opening up new areas of knowledge about Home Office activity in general. It is a cost-effective vehicle that allows us to speak to many people at once and offers the option for anyone to give us their feedback. We are developing the website, most recently providing information on protection against the terrorist threat.
	1 Oftel January 2002

Domestic Violence

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been received by Surrey councils to combat domestic violence in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 21 March 2003
	We do not hold comprehensive figures centrally.
	As far as the Home Office is concerned, in the year 2002–03 the following councils received funding totalling approximately 50,000 from the Home Office via Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships: Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Surrey Heath, Tandridge, Waverley.

Minicabs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times (a) this year and (b) last year the police have investigated mini-cab companies for (i) employment of illegal immigrants and (ii) failure to keep accurate work documents.

Bob Ainsworth: Information is not held centrally on the number of police investigations of mini-cab companies or private hire vehicle operating centres. When the police have reason to investigate such businesses, there may, apart from failure to keep accurate work documents, be a number of offences detected. These include driving without insurance, no MOT, no vehicle excise duty, touting and vehicle defects.
	The police do not routinely investigate such businesses in relation to the employment of illegal immigrants, but if they do encounter such activities they would normally involve the Immigration Service.

Personal Protection

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to distribute to all UK citizens public information packs on personal protection in the event of chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear attack; and if he will make an assessment of information packs recently produced by private sector firms.

David Blunkett: holding answer 27 March 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Brian Cotter) on 10 March 2003, Official Report, olumn 69W. I would like the House tobe assured that we are considering every option for how the Government would provide appropriate information at an appropriate time for the public.
	The Government will not comment on information packs produced by private sector firms as it does not comment on matters that may have commercial implications.
	At the end of December 2002, 3,865 asylum seeker households (comprising 1,295 individuals and 2,570 families) were being supported by the Department for Work andPensions (DWP).
	Note:Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

Special Constables

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there were in the Buckingham constituency in 2002.

Bob Ainsworth: I understand from the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police that it is not possible to provide information about the number of special constables specifically for the Buckingham constituency. At 31 March 2002 the number of special constables in the Aylesbury Vale police area, which incorporates the Buckingham constituency, was 27.

Timber

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much timber has been bought for use on the Home Office construction site at 2 Marsham Street; which timber companies have provided it; and what efforts have been made to ensure that it comes from legal and sustainable sources.

Beverley Hughes: So far, no timber has been purchased for use in the new Home Office building. Information on the quantities of such purchases will be provided to the Department when they have been made, together with evidence that they have come from legal and sustainable sources.
	There have been no significant timber purchases by Anne Gates Property Pic (AGP) for use in the construction of the new building. In accordance with central guidance, our policy does not require AGP to provide details of timber used during construction. AGP has, nevertheless, agreed to supply copies of certificates showing that purchased construction timber has been sourced legally and sustainably.
	It is not always practical for the source of hired timber, or hired products containing timber such as site office furniture, to be verified in the same way.

Work Permits

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) organisations and (b) companies in the UK entertainment industry he consulted on the proposal to introduce charges for work permit applications; and how many of each (i) opposed and (ii) supported the introduction of a flat rate fee for work permits.

Beverley Hughes: In order to ensure that the consultation was fair, transparent and equitable the organisations and companies consulted were randomly selected from the Work Permits (UK) database and the consultation was also placed on the Work Permits (UK) website as well as the UK Online website. As such, no record of the type of employer consulted was collected. The consultation was conducted according to the Code of Practice on written consultation issued by the Cabinet Office.
	However, out of the 135 replies in response to the consultation exercise in England, Scotland and Wales, 12 respondents identified themselves as being from the Entertainment and Leisure industry. While only four of those 12 stated the flat rate fee was more appropriate, overall 59 per cent. of the total respondents stated the flat rate fee was appropriate.

Work Permits

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new jobs will be created in the appropriate government department and in the fee handling agency to deal with the new charges for work permits.

Beverley Hughes: As a direct result of the introduction of charging for work permit applications, I have created 10 full time administrative posts within Work Permits (UK). The duties of these staff include financial reconciliation, accounting, exception reporting and debt recovery, the authorisation of ex-gratia payments, checking deferred and exempt payment types, and preparing inter-departmental transfers of funds.
	The fee handling agency have created five posts to receive and process the fees, issue payment notices and business letters, and provide reporting information to WP(UK).
	The number of staff employed by WP(UK) is consonant with their duty to effectively manage and control the fee collection process. The payment handling company have also employed an appropriate level of staff to manage the duties required of them.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Voting Rights

Lembit �pik: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions the Lord Chancellor has had with the Minister for Finance, Local Government and Communities in the Welsh Assembly Government on the introduction of votes for 16-year olds; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: None. However, the Government welcomes the current review of voting age by the independent Electoral Commission, which will include a public consultation paper to be issued widely this summer. The Government will give serious and careful consideration to any recommendations arising from the review.

Child Contact Orders

Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many orders for child contact are extant in relation to persons under the age of 18; and how many orders were made in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested about the numbers of extant child contacts orders relating to persons under the age of 18 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the numbers of child contact orders granted during the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999 41,862 
			 2000 46,070 
			 2001 55,030

Committee Members

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the members of the (a) Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace, (b) Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax, (c) Civil Procedure Rule Committee, (d) Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct, (e) Judicial Studies Board and (f) Council on Tribunals.

Rosie Winterton: The members are listed in a table which has been placed in the Library.

Conditional Fee Agreements

David Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effect of conditional fee agreements on legal services, with particular reference to access to justice.

Rosie Winterton: My Department has a comprehensive research programme into the impact of CFAs. The first report was published in July 2002 on the The impact of conditional fees on the selection, handling and outcomes of personal injury cases by Paul Fenn, Alistair Gray, Neil Rickman and Howard Carrier. This study analysed cases that closed prior to the introduction of the April 2000 Access Justice Reforms and produced baseline data for assessing the effects of changes in recoverability rules and for charting developments in the mechanisms being used to fund personal injury claims.
	My Department recently commissioned further research that will consider the effects of making success fees and after-the-event insurance premiums recoverable. The study will also consider the handling of clinical negligence cases and investigate the role being played by funding mechanisms in these cases and review experience in relation to funding mechanisms in other European jurisdictions.
	The research has started and is due to be completed in the summer of 2004.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor intends to reply to the letter to him dated 20 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Ajmal Ali.

Rosie Winterton: The letter to my right hon. Friend concerning his constituent, Mr Ali, was signed by my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor on Monday 31 March and sent the same day.